GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Santa Fe Women's Basketball hosted St. Petersburg in the second Central Conference matchup of the season, and the Titans were able to come away with a 71-61 result inside the SF Gymnasium.

First Quarter – SF 17, SPC 17

The Saints didn't lead in the opening quarter until the hosts went on a 7-0 run, capped off by a Kelli Cunningham midrange jumper that brough the score to 14-13.

After St. Petersburg retook the lead, Cunningham added a triple in the final seconds to knot the game up at 17 apiece.

Second Quarter – SPC 35, SF 32

The Titans stretched out a seven-point lead, 28-21, after the first three minutes of the frame.

Santa Fe worked themselves back to even at 30-30 after a basket and the foul from Keliyah Johnson, and it looked like it would be even at the halftime horn.

St. Petersburg, however, converted on a steal and three-pointer on the opposite end in the final seconds to go into the break with a lead.

Third Quarter – SPC 53, SF 49

Santa Fe drew to within a single point, 43-42, after a triple from Selah Reddick.

The Saints were never able to take a lead though, and the Titans stayed in front headed into the final ten minutes of play.

Fourth Quarter – SPC 71, SF 61

Leading 55-51, St. Petersburg started an 8-0 run to take their largest lead of the game, 63-51, with 6:44 to play.

Aleisha Curry and Olivia Smith combined for nine points in the final quarter, but the Saints were unable to get any closer than eight the rest of the way in suffering a fourth-straight defeat.

Key Statistics

SF held a slim rebounding advantage, 47-44, and also forced St. Petersburg into 26 turnovers.

The Saints, however, struggled from the field and turned it over 22 times of their own.

Curry had yet another double-double to lead the way for SF, contributing 19 points and 15 rebounds.

O. Smith had 14 points and eight rebounds, while Reddick had ten points, eight rebounds, and four assists.

Up Next

Santa Fe (8-8, 0-2 Central) will remain on their home floor for a nonconference matchup against DME Sports on Wednesday, Jan. 19 at 5:00 p.m.