Links: Box Score
LORETTO, Pa. – Despite facing a 59-43 deficit entering the fourth quarter on Thursday against the first-place Saint Francis University Red Flash, the Merrimack College women's basketball team showed plenty of fight in what amounted to a 70-62 loss at DeGol Arena. The Warriors outscored the Red Flash, 19-11, in the final 10 minutes to mount a comeback that saw the visitors get within six points in the final minute. Saint Francis improved to 9-4 (7-0 NEC) while Merrimack dropped to 0-5 (0-5 NEC)
A 13-5 fourth-quarter run turned a 14-point game into a 68-62 contest in the final minute. Senior
Alyssa Casey and sophomore
Diamond Christian combined to score the final 13 points of the night for Merrimack as the duo finished with a team-high 17 points apiece.
The Basics
Score: Saint Francis 70,
Merrimack 62
Records: Merrimack (0-5, 0-5 NEC) | Saint Francis (9-4, 7-0 NEC)
Location: DeGol Arena | Loretto, Pa.
Rapid Recap
- An 8-2 stretch for the hosts midway through the first quarter allowed Saint Francis to turn an 8-7 advantage into a 16-9 lead at the 3:37 mark. A little bit later and still facing a seven-point deficit, the Warriors used a 5-0 surge that featured a 3-pointer for junior Kate Mager to make it a one-possession game, 18-16. Merrimack trailed by just four, 20-16, going to the second quarter
- The Red Flash used another 8-2 run to grow its lead to double figures for the first time, 28-18, by the 7:11 mark of the second quarter. The advantage expanded to 12 points before a 7-2 run for Merrimack capped off by a triple for sophomore Jayme DeCesare dropped the Warriors' deficit to seven, 37-30. The final 80 seconds of the quarter belonged to the Red Flash, however, as Saint Francis scored the quarter's final four points to bring its lead to 11 (41-30) at halftime
- Casey played well to start the third frame, scoring seven of Merrimack's first eight points to chip into the host's lead. After the senior hit a trey, it was a seven-point game, 45-38, with 5:21 to go until the fourth. With the score at 47-40, the Red Flash went on a 12-3 run that spanned the remainder of the quarter to take a 59-43 edge to the fourth
- Trailing 61-45 with 8:42 to play, Merrimack began to fight back. Senior Mayson Kimball and sophomore Alana Fursman contributed four points to get Merrimack's offense going, and Christian followed with five straight of her own to bring the Warriors within single digits at 63-54. Christian ended up scoring nine of Merrimack's next 11 points overall, which saw the visitors climb within seven, 67-60, with less than a minute to play. The Warriors ran out of time though, falling by an eight-point margin
Notes and Numbers
- Christian tied her career high with 17 points and set new single-game bests with eight rebounds and six steals. She also made seven field goals for the third time in five games this season
- Her six steals were the most for a Warrior since Karlee Alves '19 posted five games with at least six thefts during the 2018-19 season
- Casey's 17 points were a season high, and the second most that she has scored at the DI level. The forward's eight made shots and 27 minutes were both season highs
- Merrimack and SFU's all-time series is now tied at 1-1
Up Next
Merrimack plays Saint Francis one more time at DeGol Arena, tipping off tomorrow afternoon at 4 p.m.
