LORETTO, Pa. (Interstat) — In a matchup of teams seeking momentum in a challenging season, the Chicago State Cougars used a dominant fourth-quarter surge to secure a 70-61 road victory over the Saint Francis (PA) Red Flash in a Northeast Conference women’s basketball game Thursday night at DeGol Arena.

The game, played before an announced crowd of 349, was a tale of contrasting halves and a decisive final period. Chicago State (5-17, 2-3 NEC) entered the fourth quarter trailing 45-44 but erupted for 26 points in the final 10 minutes to pull away. Saint Francis (PA) (2-18, 1-4), which led for much of the first three quarters, managed only 16 points in the final frame as its offense stalled.

The most critical sequence of the game unfolded midway through the fourth quarter with the outcome still in doubt. After Saint Francis’ Gemma Walker hit a three-pointer to give the Red Flash a 55-52 lead with 4:37 remaining, the Cougars responded with a game-defining 10-0 run. The spurt was fueled by defensive pressure and transition offense.

Keona McGee ignited the run with a jump shot, followed by a Brianna Hill layup after a Tania Allen steal. McGee then found Hill for another layup, and McGee capped the run with a driving layup of her own, putting Chicago State ahead 62-55 with 2:10 to play. The Red Flash committed two turnovers and missed two shots during the three-minute drought, from which they never recovered.

McGee, a 5-foot-8 guard from Milwaukee, led all scorers with 18 points and added three assists in 33 minutes for Chicago State. Her backcourt partner, Marisa Gant of Springfield, Illinois, provided crucial support with 10 points. Allen, a 6-foot forward from Chicago, contributed nine points, two assists and a block, while her defensive activity, including three steals, was pivotal.

For Saint Francis (PA), Walker, a 5-10 guard from Venetia, Pennsylvania, shouldered the offensive load with a team-high 17 points, two assists and a block in 30 minutes. Sonia Sato, a 6-foot forward from Okayama, Japan, added 15 points. Aleah James of Brooklyn, New York, finished with 11 points.

The first half was a ragged affair, with both teams struggling to find offensive consistency. Chicago State built an early lead, ending the first quarter up 19-12, but Saint Francis (PA) chipped away in the second. The Red Flash took their first lead late in the half and entered halftime with a 28-26 advantage after Walker made two free throws with 37 seconds left.

The third quarter was a back-and-forth battle featuring six lead changes. The Red Flash maintained a slim edge, taking a one-point lead into the final period. However, the Cougars’ defensive intensity increased in the fourth, forcing eight Saint Francis turnovers which they converted into 12 points. Chicago State shot 50% from the field in the decisive quarter, while holding the Red Flash to 33% shooting.

The victory gave Chicago State a regular-season sweep of the Red Flash, having also won 73-64 in Chicago just a week prior. It marked the Cougars’ second conference win and snapped a two-game skid. For Saint Francis (PA), the loss extended a difficult season, though they remain competitive in conference play.

Chicago State next travels to face Mercyhurst on Saturday. Saint Francis (PA) will look to rebound on the road at New Haven, also on Saturday.