SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Junior Nika Bagatelos scored 17 points to help St. Francis improve to 6-0 in Delta League play with a 63-54 victory over Monterey Trail on Friday.

“We had to pull through and take care of the basketball while playing good defense and rebound,” said Bagatelos.

St. Francis (10-7) led 45-30 after three quarters but the Mustangs fought to make the came close down the final quarter, closing within five points. The Troubies had to seal the game at the line with Marlee Nicolos and Lauren Pank each hitting two free throws late.

“We started getting frazzled because they played good pressure defense,” said Bagatelos. They got the momentum but at the end we pulled it together.”

Bagatelos scored eight points in the first quarter with Nicolos contributing 10 and Adrienne Graybill adding five as SF took a 23-9 lead. The Troubadours only scored 10 in second and 12 in the third but continued to lead.

Nicolos finished with a team-high 19 points and Graybill scored a career-best seven points. Junior Ally Gage added six in the win.

‘We can’t overlook Grant or Pleasant Grove before Holy Hoops on Saturday,” said Bagatelos.

St. Francis travels to Grant on Tuesday for a 5:30 p.m. tipoff against the Pacers. The Troubies host Pleasant Grove on Friday and play at Christian Brothers on Saturday.

St. Francis 63, Monterey Trail 54

Monterey Trail 9 9 12 24 – 54

St. Francis 23 10 12 18 – 63

SF – Nicolos 19, Bagatelos 17, Graybill 7, Gage 6, Kelly 5, Pank 4, Keitges 3, Fleming-Mullins 2.  MT – Duong 13, Thompson 12, Garcia 11, Phomphochanh 4, Walker 4, Singh 4, J. Watkins 3, Q, Watkins 3.