Saint Francis Falls to Indiana Tech in First Round of NAIA Tournament
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Indiana Tech (26-5) | 15 | 21 | 11 | 17 | 64 |
|
Saint Francis (Ind.) (26-5) | 12 | 15 | 11 | 22 | 60 |
FORT WAYNE, Ind. - The University of Saint Francis (Ind.) women's basketball team fell to the Warriors of Indiana Institute of Technology by a final score of 64-60 in the Fort Wayne Priority Life Care National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) National Tournament First and Second Rounds, presented by Ballogy on Friday, March 14.
The Cougars, who were the No. 3 seed in the bracket, hosted the NAIA First Round for the first time in school history. They welcomed No. 6 Rio Grande University, No. 11 Stillman College, and No. 14 Indiana Tech. USF drew Indiana Tech for the first game of the first round.
After an unconventional start to the game, where the Warriors took a 1-0 lead before tip-off, Indiana Tech quickly surged ahead, leading 13-5 by the first media timeout in the opening quarter. With 1:26 remaining on the clock, Saint Francis narrowed the gap to three points. However, Indiana Tech managed to hold on to a 15-12 advantage by the end of the first quarter.
Cassidy Crawford opened the second quarter with a layup, bringing the Cougars within one point, making the score 15-14. Indiana Tech then pulled ahead, extending their lead to 25-17 by the 4:18 mark. As the half drew to a close, Cali Gregory drained a jump shot, concluding the first half with Indiana Tech ahead 36-27.
Indiana Tech maintained their lead during the third quarter, with both teams scoring 11 points, bringing the score to 47-38 going into the fourth quarter. The Cougars clawed their way back, cutting the Warrios' lead to a single point with 3:14 left to play. After tying the score at 57-57, both teams traded baskets as they battled for control of the game. With just 52 seconds remaining, Indiana Tech made a three-pointer, regaining a 62-60 lead. Saint Francis was unable to score again, and the Warriors sealed the game with two free throws in the final seconds, securing a 64-60 victory to advance to the second round.
The Cougars shot 44.4% (24-54) from the field and 42.1% (8-19) from three-point range. Crawford led USF with 20 points and four rebounds. Gregory added 14 points and a block, while Chloe McKnight made four of her eight three-point attempts en route to 12 points. The senior guard also had a team-high five rebounds. Julia Mantyla finished with six points and three assists.
USF women's basketball concluded the 2024-25 season with an overall record of 26-5, finishing the regular season second in the Crossroads League and returning to the NAIA Women's Basketball Championship First Round for the first time since the 2020 season.
Cougar fans can stay updated on all events and recaps with USF Athletics by visiting saintfranciscougars.com.
