St. Francis’ Benedetti has career-high 28 points in loss

St. Francis’ Sarah Benedetti (14) drives to the basket.

EASTON, PA., Dec. 21 – Sophomore guard Sarah Benedetti of Canton poured in a career-high 28 points but it wasn’t enough as the St. Francis, N.Y., women’s basketball team dropped a 66-63 decision to Lafayette College on Friday.

Benedetti sank nine of 13 shots from the floor and came within one shot of tying her own school record of most three-point shots in a game (7). Benedetti sank 6-of-7 shots from long range in 33 minutes of action. The Terriers slip to 2-8 on the season.

It was a back and forth game with Lafayette (4-7) extending its lead to as much as 12, 56-44 with 6:53 remaining in the game. But St. Francis was able to cut the deficit to four, 56-52 as Benedetti sank four straight baskets for the Terriers.

Benedetti has sunk 14 consecutive free throws, including a pair with 0:34 seconds left in regulation that cut the Lafayette lead to six points. St. Francis hit a three-point shot with five seconds left to cut the lead to three and an game-tying shot at the buzzer went off the rim.

Benedetti is averaging 12.7 points and 3.6 rebounds a game for the Terriers. She has drained 31 three-point shots through 10 games.

St. Francis, N.Y., will be off for the Christmas break before remaining on the road as they gear up for Rider University in Lawrenceville, N.J. on December 29. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m.

St. Francis, N.Y. women’s basketball

Sarah Benedetti profile from St. Francis