The scoreboard inside the Stokes Center read Stonehill 58, Saint Francis 55, when the horn sounded Thursday night, but the numbers told only part of the story.
For a team that has lost 10 straight games, the Red Flash battled to the end, demonstrating resilience in their second-to-last home game of the season.
It was also Senior Night. SFU’s six seniors were honored prior to tipoff.
“I hope you were able to see some grit, some determination, some exciting basketball,” said SFU Acting Head Coach Raphael McNeill.
“I would love for the outcome to be different, but the young ladies left it all on the floor. They gave everything they had.”
With just over two minutes remaining, senior Bati Assefa rose up on the right wing and buried a three-pointer to knot the game at 55-55. It was the ninth tie of the night.
“They fight tooth and nail,” McNeill said. “They believe in each other, they believe in the work that they put in. They’re a resilient group.”
That resilience showed in the third quarter, when Saint Francis shot 60 percent and clawed back from a 32-25 halftime deficit.
It showed again in the fourth, when Shelby Ricks calmly stepped to the line and knocked down free throws to give the Red Flash a 43-42 lead.
And it showed in the bench production. SFU got 24 points from its second unit, a spark that kept SFU in the game throughout the night.
Ricks led the way for SFU with 16 points and five rebounds. She made five of 10 shots from the floor and all six of her attempts from the free throw line.
Assefa added 12, including a late triple that tied the game at 55.
Stonehill (11-16, 7-9 NEC) controlled the glass, outrebounding Saint Francis 41-24. The Skyhawks grabbed 10 offensive rebounds and converted key second-chance opportunities down the stretch.
Brooke Paquette’s 22 points led all scorers. The Stonehill junior guard was a perfect 9-for-9 from the line and hit three three-pointers.
“We would play really good defense, and then we wouldn’t finish the possession by getting the rebound,” McNeill said. “When they were able to get those second and third opportunities at the rim, it hurt.”
An offensive rebound and putback with just over a minute left by freshman Ella Pelletier gave the Skyhawks a 57-55 lead that they would not surrender.
Zaiha Minnis scored eight points for SFU and hit two three-pointers.
The Flash (2-25, 2-14 NEC) will return to action on Saturday, Feb. 28, hosting Central Connecticut State in a game that begins at 2 p.m. at the Stokes Center.
A win over the Blue Devils clinches SFU a spot in the NEC Tournament.
