EL DORADO, Calif. – Oak Ridge improved to 8-0 in Delta River League action with a 68-50 win over St. Francis Tuesday night. The Troubadours dropped to 5-3 in league action and 15-9 overall.

“We really had some break downs defensively in the half court,” said Head Coach Vic Pitton. “We worked on it yesterday and I thought we improved in the second half against Sheldon. Today we were not quite with it in the first half.”

St. Francis fell behind 46-26 at the break. Senior Amanda Davenport scored eight of her nine points in the first half to lead the team.

“Our defense was not as strong as it needed to be today,” said senior Abby Dow. “Down by 20, it was going to be really hard to come back from that.”

St. Francis out-scored the Trojans (21-4) in the second half but never made major cuts into the deficit.

“I thought we came out really hard in the second half,” said Dow. “I am really proud of my team for fighting back and giving our all on the court. Oak Ridge is really good competition. We love playing them.”

Dow led the team with 19 points, including 13 in the second half. It was a season high point total and one short of her career-best of 20 points set against Sacred Heart in her sophomore season.

“I was a little mad about the lead so I wanted to come out fighting and try to get the deficit smaller,” said Dow.

She hit a pair of three-pointers in the second half among her five baskets after the break and went 5-for-7 from the line for the game.

“I thought it was her best game of the season,” said Pitton. “She has had some good games but from an offensive standpoint, she was very active. She was looking for her shot, knocked down a couple of threes as well. When I can get her inside and outside, it really makes us more potent.”

Leading scorer Susie Rogers had just three points, sitting out most of the second half as a precaution after leaving the game in the third quarter. Sophomore

Lauren Craig and Davenport each contributed nine points.

“We dug such a big hole,” said Pitton. “Against a good team you are not going to overcome that kind of lead.”

Dow and her five senior teammates will be honored in a pre-game ceremony Thursday immediately following the Junior Varsity against Pleasant Grove.  The JV game starts at 5:30 p.m. The St. Francis Booster Club will host a Booster Q before and after the game.

SF – Dow 19, Davenport 9, Craig 9, Ortiz 6, Huffman 4, Rogers 3. OR – Bettencourt 16, Smith 10, Drossos 8, Barkley 6, Peters 6, Hoffman 4, Dulgar 4, Derkson 4, Vitolas 8, Conde 2.