Gainesville, FL- On Monday, the Saints played their final regular season game of the season against Indian River State College.  With a win the Saints could control their own destiny with hopes of securing a spot in the state tournament.  Indian River had other plans.  This was a tight , hard fought game with the score knotted at thirty-one points apiece going into halftime.  Indian River took the lead back early in the second half keeping the Santa Fe at bay securing the win 56-65.  

How It Happened

The Pioneers jumped out to an early lead forcing the Saints to play from behind for the entire first quarter.  Leyah Houston led scoring for the Saints in the first.  She helped to keep her squad close in on the lead by scoring seven straight points for the Saints.  At the end of the first period, the Saints still trailed 12-20.  

Khaleah Douglas led scoring for the Saints in the second period making all five of her free throw attempts.  Camryn Robinson hit a triple putting the Saints within two points (24-26).  Shakiria Chaney drove through the lane scoring a left-handed layup tying the game at 26-26.  The Saints went up by one as Ta'Niya Walker made one of two free throws.  At the end of the first half, the score was tied at 31-31.

Shakiria Chaney hit a jump shot giving the Saints the first points of the second half and their first lead of the game.  Khaleah Douglas hit a triple to help stretch the lead for the Saints at 40-31.  At the beginning of the first half, the Saints went on a nine-point run.  This was then countered by a fourteen-point run by the Pioneers.

The Saints tied up the game with a four-point run at the start of the fourth quarter (48-48).  However, after the Pioneers took the lead back early in the fourth, they never gave it back again.  The leading scorer for the Pioneers was BrialleWashington with 14 points.  Leyah Houston led scoring for the Saints with 19 points and 11 rebounds.     

Comments From Coach Jackson

"This was not the ending we hoped for in our final regular season game.  We had some costly turnovers that we were not able to overcome tonight.  Our bench played well tonight being called upon to play heavy minutes so there is that as a bright spot to build upon."

Up Next  

The Saints will be moving on to compete in the state tournament which starts next week.