LORETTO, Pa. (Interstat) — In a game defined by a dominant second-quarter performance, the Lafayette Leopards defeated the Saint Francis (PA) Red Flash 69-55 in a non-conference women’s basketball game Sunday at DeGol Arena.

The Leopards improved to 2-3 on the young season, while the Red Flash remained winless at 0-4.

Lafayette seized control of the contest with a 21-point second quarter, holding Saint Francis to just five points in the period. After leading 16-13 through one quarter, the Leopards outscored the Red Flash 21-5 in the second to take a commanding 37-18 lead into halftime. The stifling defensive effort proved insurmountable for Saint Francis, despite a 22-point third-quarter surge that saw them cut into the deficit.

Sauda Ntaconayigize led all scorers for Lafayette, pouring in 18 points to go with six rebounds and four assists in 34 minutes of action. The Leopards’ offense was fueled by exceptional shooting from beyond the arc, connecting on 14 of 28 3-point attempts. Haylie Adamski contributed 13 points and five rebounds, while Rosie Scognamiglio provided a significant spark off the bench, scoring 12 points, all from 3-point range.

For Saint Francis, Shelby Ricks recorded a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Bati Assefa also scored 15 points and dished out five assists in the losing effort.

The Red Flash won the battle on the offensive glass, grabbing 12 rebounds to Lafayette’s seven, and held an 18-12 advantage in points in the paint. However, they were hampered by inefficient shooting, finishing 21 of 57 from the field and just 5 of 18 from 3-point range. Their offensive rating of 83.2 points per 100 possessions paled in comparison to Lafayette’s mark of 106.7.

Lafayette also benefited from a strong performance at the free-throw line, making 11 of 14 attempts, while Saint Francis struggled, converting only 8 of 15.

The game was a sloppy affair at times, with the teams combining for 29 turnovers. Lafayette committed 15, leading to nine points for Saint Francis, while the Red Flash’s 14 turnovers resulted in eight points for the Leopards.

Talia Zurinskas of Lafayette facilitated the offense effectively, tallying six assists to go with seven points. For Saint Francis, Aleah James filled the stat sheet with five points, nine rebounds and four assists.

The announced attendance was 398.

Lafayette will look to build on the victory when they travel to face Wagner on Thursday. Saint Francis (PA) will seek its first win of the season at home against Carnegie Mellon on Tuesday.