UPLAND, Ind. - The No. 7 University of Saint Francis (Ind.) earned a hard-fought 72-62 road victory over (RV) Taylor University on Wednesday, February 11.

The two teams battled in the first quarter, with the Cougars edging the Trojans for an 18-11 lead. Taylor responded in the second, using a 28-20 frame to take a narrow two-point lead into halftime.

The Cougars pulled ahead in the third quarter after holding the Trojans to just nine points, giving SF a 55-48 lead. SF continued to build momentum, extending its lead to 65-53 with 3:14 remaining. Taylor attempted a comeback, but the Cougars held off the Trojans to secure the 72-62 victory, improving to 13-2 in Crossroads League play.

Saint Francis shot 60.4% (29-48) from the field and 37.5% (6-16) from three-point range. The Cougars dominated inside, outscoring Taylor 42-20 in the paint while both teams finished with 28 rebounds. Cali Gregory led the way with 29 points on 11-17 shooting while adding seven rebounds. Isabella Gizzi followed with 22 points, six rebounds and three assists. Taylor Fordyce contributed seven points and four assists, while Renna Schwieterman pulled down seven rebounds.

Up next, Saint Francis (23-2, 13-2 CL) returns home to host No. 4 Marian University as part of the league-wide Jesus Won Day on Saturday, February 14. In their first meeting this season, the Cougars defeated the Knights 56-46.

Founded in 1890 in the Catholic Franciscan tradition, the University of Saint Francis offers more than 60 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs. The academic structure at Saint Francis offers seven pathways: Humanities, Faith and Liberal Arts; Allied Health; Creative Arts and Digital Media; Education, Human Services and Community Care; Leadership and Business; Nursing; and  Sciences and Medical Studies. In addition to its traditional programs, Saint Francis delivers workforce development healthcare programs in Fort Wayne, Crown Point, Gas City, Indianapolis, Lafayette and online. Saint Francis Downtown houses the music technology program while offering enhanced internship and networking opportunities for students. A National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Five-Star Champion of Character institution, Saint Francis has 21 athletic programs boasting three individual and four team NAIA national championships. More than 1,900 students from a broad geographic region attend Saint Francis.