EASTON, Mass. (Interstat) — In a game defined by dramatic momentum swings and a frantic final minute, the Stonehill Skyhawks escaped with a 59-57 victory over the Saint Francis (PA) Red Flash in a Northeast Conference women’s basketball matchup Thursday night at Merkert Gymnasium.

The game’s decisive sequence unfolded in the closing seconds. With the score tied at 57 and 2.2 seconds remaining, Stonehill’s Ella Pelletier was fouled on a rebound attempt. Pelletier made the first free throw to put the Skyhawks ahead but missed the second. Saint Francis’ Shelby Ricks secured the defensive rebound and called an immediate timeout with 1.1 seconds left.

Out of the timeout, the Red Flash inbounded the ball to leading scorer Gemma Walker, but her desperation three-point attempt from the wing as time expired missed the mark, sealing the narrow win for the home team.

The contest was a tale of contrasting halves. Saint Francis (1-15) raced out to a commanding early lead, fueled by a blistering first quarter. The Red Flash opened the game on a 9-0 run, highlighted by a Makyiah Ward steal and layup followed by a Walker three-pointer. They led 21-13 after the first period, dominating the paint and converting Stonehill turnovers into points.

Stonehill (6-10) responded with a dominant second quarter, outscoring Saint Francis 22-8 to take control. The Skyhawks’ defense tightened, holding the Red Flash to a single field goal over a critical seven-minute stretch. A balanced offensive attack, led by Julia Webster and Brooke Paquette, erased the deficit and built a 35-29 halftime advantage.

The Skyhawks extended their lead to as many as 11 points in the third quarter, but the resilient Red Flash refused to fade. Saint Francis chipped away in the fourth, leveraging their interior defense, which produced 10 blocked shots on the night, including three each from Ricks and Ward.

Walker, a 5-foot-10 guard from Venetia, Pennsylvania, spearheaded the comeback attempt, scoring 17 of her game-high 17 points in the second half. Her three-pointer with 1:32 remaining in the game tied the score at 57, setting the stage for the tense finish.

Stonehill was led by the backcourt duo of Paquette and Webster. Paquette, a 5-8 guard from Hudson, New Hampshire, finished with 17 points and six assists, including two crucial free throws with 1:12 left. Webster, a 6-foot forward from Cumberland, Rhode Island, added 15 points and played a game-high 38 minutes. Breana Delaney contributed 10 points and four assists for the Skyhawks.

For Saint Francis, Ricks joined Walker in double figures with 10 points to go along with her three blocks. Aleah James added eight points off the bench.

The game was a defensive struggle, with both teams shooting under 35% from the floor. Saint Francis held a slight edge in points in the paint, 32-30, and points off turnovers, 10-9, but Stonehill’s ability to weather the early storm and execute in the final moments proved the difference.

The announced attendance was 101.

Saint Francis will look to rebound on the road Saturday at Central Connecticut. Stonehill continues its homestand Saturday against Mercyhurst.

The most important part of the game was the final 2.2 seconds. With the score deadlocked, the outcome hinged entirely on Pelletier’s free throws. Her make and subsequent miss created a chaotic final possession, where Saint Francis, despite a well-designed play to get the ball to their top scorer, could not convert a last-second heave, allowing Stonehill to secure a victory they nearly let slip away.