LORETTO, Pa. — Chicago St. (5-17, 4-5 NEC) defeated Saint Francis (2-18, 2-7 NEC), 70-61, with a 26-point surge in the fourth quarter. CSU capitalized on turnovers, scoring 18 points off 23 Saint Francis turnovers.
Chicago State started the first quarter strong, capitalizing on Saint Francis's turnovers to build early momentum.
Tania Allen's jumper tied the score at 4-4, before
Marisa Gant's three-pointer at 7:10 gave the Cougars a slim lead. The Cougars continued to pressure, with
Kace Urlacher converting an offensive rebound into a layup, pushing the score to 11-8. Chicago State maintained defensive intensity, forcing eight turnovers and recording five steals in the quarter. Allen extended the lead with a three-pointer at 1:16, and the team closed the quarter on a 5-0 run, capped by a free throw from Urlacher. The Cougars led 19-12 at the end of the first quarter, holding a seven-point advantage.
Chicago State began the second quarter with strong defensive pressure, forcing eight turnovers and converting them into eight points. Key steals by
Keona McGee and
Brianna Hill highlighted their defensive efforts. Offensive contributions included layups from McGee and
Paris Bass, which helped maintain a lead. Saint Francis responded with points in the paint and free throws, cutting into the deficit as the quarter progressed. Despite their efforts, CSU held a narrow lead, closing the quarter ahead 31–28.
Chicago State began the third quarter by securing a three-point advantage with
Marisa Gant's successful three-pointer at 7:34, assisted by McGee. Gant continued to impact the game with an assist to McGee for a layup at 6:43, extending the lead to 36–33. Despite this, Saint Francis managed to narrow the gap, tying the game multiple times and eventually pulling ahead. In the closing minutes,
Chloe Sisco hit a crucial three-pointer at 1:55 to reclaim the lead at 40–39. After trading baskets, Chicago State found themselves down by one with seconds to play. Gant's jumper at 0:24 put the Cougars ahead 44–43, but a late layup by Saint Francis at 0:03 resulted in a narrow 45–44 deficit at the end of the quarter.
Chicago State initiated the fourth quarter with a layup from Bass to gain the lead, setting the tone for a decisive quarter. Sisco's three-pointer at 1:25 extended their advantage, contributing to a 9–0 run that shifted momentum. Defensive efforts were highlighted by McGee and Allen, each securing crucial steals that disrupted Saint Francis' offensive flow. In the closing minutes, Chicago State continued to assert control, with
Kyara Champagne and Allen capitalizing on free throw opportunities to widen the margin. The quarter concluded with a strong offensive and defensive performance, securing a 26–16 scoring advantage and a final score of 70–61 in favor of the Cougars.
Keona McGee led with 18 points and collected six rebounds, contributing significantly on both ends of the court. This performance marked the third consecutive game in which McGee has scored at least 18 total points.
Tania Allen added nine points and recorded four steals.
Brianna Hill scored eight points and tallied three steals, impacting the game defensively.
Marisa Gant finished with 10 points and secured six rebounds, adding to the team's overall effort.
With the win, the Cougars have now won three of their last five games and are now 5-17 overall and 4-5 in NEC competition.
UP NEXT
Chicago St. will face Mercyhurst University on Saturday, Jan. 31. The matchup will take place at 12:00 PM (CT) at Owen McCormick Court in Erie, Pennsylvania.
