LODI, Calif. – Susie Rogers scored a game-high 17 points to lead St. Francis to a 47-42 victory in the championship game of the Lodi Christmas Tournament Saturday afternoon.

“It feels good,” said Rogers. “I think we have really improved over time. We won as a team. We are playing as a team and we are running our offense and defense better each game.”

Rogers, who was named tournament MVP, highlighted a fourth-quarter comeback with a three-pointer with 5:12 left that gave the Troubadours their first lead in the second half at 40-39. St. Francis trailed by eight entering the final quarter after scoring just three points in the third quarter.

Elk Grove briefly took back the lead 42-40 with a triple before Kyra Huffman and Gillian Balbierz made back-to-back baskets. The Troubies did not allow another point in the game.

St. Francis trailed by one 28-27 at the half before Elk Grove went on a 10-1 run to build their lead in the third quarter. The Troubies got back in the game with a strong defensive effort that fueled a 7-0 to start the fourth.

“We did not bring it defensively in the first half and in the third we went into an offensive funk,” said Pitton. “We really tightened everything up and put pressure on their guards so they could not get any open looks.”

Lauren Craig, who averaged 15.3 points per game in the tournament, added eight points in the win for St. Francis, who plays in the Nike Tournament of Champions in Chandler, Ariz., starting on Thursday. St. Francis is now 5-3 on the season and has won three in a row overall.

“It is nice to play better but we are certainly going to be tested even more in Arizona,” said Pitton. “It is always a great experience in Arizona.”
Game times and opponents for the three-day tournament will be announced this week.

VARSITY: ST. FRANCIS 47, ELK GROVE 42

SF – Rogers 17, Craig 8, Huffman 6, Balbierz 5, Davenport 5, Dow 4, Lau 2. EG – Wong 13, Shulman 10, Alexander 7, Leisure 5, Sanohu 5, Robertson 2.

JV: VANDEN 57, ST. FRANCIS 48
Emily Ainsley scored 12 points and Julia Razo added 11 but St. Francis fell in the championship game of the Kennedy Tournament Saturday.

Ainsley 12, Okugo 11, Malodanof 9, Fairbrook 8, Myers 4, Kennedy 4.

FRESHMEN: ST. FRANCIS 65, NEVADA UNION 48
 

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Claire Brennan scored a game-high 20 points and was named the team’s Offensive MVP as St. Francis won the Bronco Bill Tournament 65-51 over Nevada Union.

“Our team has really come together in these wins,” said Brennan. “It has been great.”

The Troubadours overcame an 18-13 first quarter deficit and led 29-27 at the break. With a 10-0 start to open the third, St. Francis broke open the game en route to their second tournament title in two weeks.

“We all agreed at halftime we were treating it like it was 0-0,” said Head Coach Tom Beam. “They surprised me with their composure, defense and rebounding. Everything came together tonight.”

St. Francis (7-1) got 11 points from Skyler Maccoun and nine each from the trio of Reina Deol, Steffi Keene and Savannah Tijerino-Santos, who was named the team’s Defensive MVP.

Ally Jeffers added seven points in the winning effort.

SF – Brennan 20, Maccoun 11, Deol 9, Tijerino-Santos 9, Keene 9, Jeffers 7.