LODI, Calif. – Sophomore Lauren Craig scored a career-high 23 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead St. Francis to a 58-54 victory over Rocklin in the Lodi Christmas Tournament Thursday afternoon. Rocklin entered the game ranked No. 5 in the Sacramento Bee Top 20.

“Lauren is just getting stronger offensively and playing very aggressively to get her shot,” said Head Coach Vic Pitton. “She is battling on the boards against more experienced players. She has really given a great effort and climbing far faster than anyone would expect.”

The Troubadours (3-3) led all game, jumping out to a 15-8 advantage after the first quarter. The Troubies set the pace with their defense and balanced scoring early as five players recorded a basket in the first eight minutes.

“The defense was pretty solid early on,” said Pitton. “We were still having trouble taking care of the basketball at the level we need to. We still had too many turnovers. We could have had a bigger lead.”

Craig, who recorded her first double-double of the season, scored eight points in the second quarter to help build a nine-point lead at the break 29-20. She scored 16 points against Del Oro Monday night.

Rocklin got back in the game in the second half via the three-point shot, hitting three in the third and four in the fourth. Jordan Purvis led Rocklin with five three-pointers and finished with a game-high 20 points.

“They really shot the ball well from the three-point line in the second half,” said Pitton.

Rocklin (2-2) pulled within two points late in the game but Susie Rogers sealed the game for St. Francis with her only basket of the second half.

Senior Abby Dow added 11 points and Gillian Balbierz scored 10 points in the win. Rogers and Danika Bailey each contributed four points.

In other action Thursday night, the St. Francis JV team defeated Sheldon 71-39 at a tournament hosted by Kennedy, while the freshman team handed Lincoln a 56-16 loss in the Bronco Bill Tournament hosted by Bella VIsta.

St. Francis plays its second game in Friday afternoon at 3:30 p.m. against the winner of host Lodi and West of Tracy in Lodi.

FINAL VARSITY SCORE: ST. FRANCIS 58, ROCKLIN 54

@Lodi Christmas Tournament

SF – Craig 23, Dow 11, Balbierz 10, Rogers, 4, Bailey 4, Lau 2, Davenport 2, Huffman 2. R – Purvis 20, Hilden 9, Muhic 8, Clark 7, Ferraro 3, Soloman 2, Lee 2, Payne 2, Summers 1.

FINAL JV SCORE: ST. FRANCIS 71, SHELDON 39

@Kennedy Tournament

Julia Razo scored 17 points and Janae Fairbrook added 15 as St. Francis won their opening game at the Kennedy Tournament.

The two teams were tied at 13 after the opening period and St. Francis led 27-20 at the break before pulling away with a 25-5 advantage in the third period. Fairbrook scored eight points in the quarter.

St. Francis will play host Kennedy in the semifinals on Firday.

 13 14 25 19 -71
Sheldon 13 7  5  14  -39

FINAL FRESHMAN SCORE: ST. FRANCIS 58, ROCKLIN 54

@Bella Vista’s Bronco Bill Tournament

SF – Deol 11, Maccoun 8, Ramos 8, Brennan 8, Ross, 7, Tijerino-Santos 6, Jeffers 4, Mauldin 3, Keene 1.