CHICAGO (Interstat) — Keona McGee scored 20 points and Chicago State used a dominant first quarter to build a cushion it would never fully relinquish, holding off Saint Francis (PA) 73-64 in a women’s NCAA Division I basketball game Thursday night at Jones Convocation Center.

The Cougars, who entered the contest with just four wins, exploded for 24 points in the opening period while limiting the visiting Red Flash to 13. That 11-point advantage proved critical in a game where Saint Francis chipped away but could never draw even. Chicago State improved to 5-16, while Saint Francis fell to 2-17.

The game’s decisive stretch came immediately after the opening tip. Chicago State’s Tania Allen won the jump ball, setting an early tone. After an initial turnover, the Cougars found their rhythm. A three-pointer from Marisa Gant, followed by another from Paris Bass, fueled a 13-2 run that gave Chicago State a 15-4 lead midway through the quarter. The Red Flash struggled with six turnovers in the period, which the Cougars converted into eight points. By the end of the quarter, Chicago State led 24-13, having made 10 of its 18 field goal attempts.

Saint Francis spent the remainder of the game battling back. Led by Shelby Ricks and Aleah James, the Red Flash outscored Chicago State 19-14 in the second quarter to trim the deficit to 38-32 at halftime. Ricks finished with 18 points and four assists, while James added 14 points and three assists.

The Red Flash continued to press in the third, closing to within four points on multiple occasions. A driving layup by Ricks with 7:04 left in the period made it 42-38, but each time Saint Francis threatened, Chicago State had an answer. Often, it was McGee, the 5-foot-8 guard from Milwaukee, who provided it. She scored seven points in the third quarter, including a stepback jumper that pushed the lead back to eight.

Chicago State’s balance was key. Alongside McGee’s game-high 20 points, Paris Bass scored 12, Tania Allen added 13 points, four assists and a block, and Kyara Champagne contributed 10 points. Marisa Gant filled the stat sheet with 11 points, three assists and a game-high four steals.

Saint Francis’ effort was hampered by offensive inefficiency. The Red Flash shot just 40.7% from the field and 25% from three-point range. They also converted only 12 of 19 free throw attempts. While they won the offensive rebounding battle 12-9, generating second chances, they could not overcome 17 turnovers.

The Cougars, meanwhile, were more effective with their possessions, shooting 49.1% from the floor and posting an offensive rating of 96.1 points per 100 possessions, compared to Saint Francis’s 87.6. Chicago State also forced 17 turnovers, turning them into 19 points.

The Red Flash made one final push in the fourth quarter. A layup by Ricks cut the Chicago State lead to 61-59 with just over seven minutes remaining, marking the closest the game had been since the first quarter. The Cougars responded with a 6-0 run, capped by a Keona McGee layup, to restore an eight-point advantage at 67-59 with 4:43 to play. Saint Francis would get no closer than six points the rest of the way.

Free throws sealed the victory for Chicago State in the final minute. McGee and Allen combined to make five of six from the line in the last 16 seconds to close out the nine-point win.

Sonia Sato scored 13 points for Saint Francis. The game was organized by the Northeast Conference. Attendance was announced at 94.

Both teams return to action Saturday. Chicago State hosts Mercyhurst, while Saint Francis (PA) returns home to face New Haven. The Cougars and Red Flash will meet again in just one week, on Jan. 29 in Loretto, Pennsylvania.