Dec. 28, 2008

Story courtesy of St. Francis Sports Information

CHICAGO — Junior point guard Katie Carls (St. Bede Academy/Spring Valley, IL) scored a team-high 18 points and canned 8-of-9 free throws down the stretch to lead University of St. Francis (Ill.) to a 76-63 victory over Aquinas (Mich.) in the semifinal round of the Saint Xavier (Ill.) Christmas Classic Sunday evening (Dec. 28).

Carls finished with 9 free throws in 10 tries for the game as the Saints (8-8) extended an 8-point halftime lead (42-34) to double digits early in the second half and were never seriously threatened the rest of the way. Carls made 4-of-5 shots from the floor, including a 3-pointer, and added a team-best 5 assists and 4 rebounds to her statistical line for the game.

USF and Aquinas (8-4) -- who entered the game with a No. 14 ranking in the NAIA Division II poll -- traded leads early in the game but the Saints took the edge for good at 20-19 midway through the opening half. Aquinas managed to tie the score on two more occasions before halftime but never regained the lead.

The Saints also got a great game from junior forward Kellie Fazio (Leyden H.S./Rosemont, IL) who collected a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds.

Freshman center Jen Andes (Hall H.S./Spring Valley, IL) added 9 points off the bench, despite fouling out of the game with nearly 16 minutes remaining. Junior forward Kaci Baird (Bartlett H.S./Bartlett, IL) and senior guard Amanda Mistretta (Maine East H.S./Niles, IL) each added 8 points for USF. All 10 players who got into the game scored for the Saints.

USF outrebounded the taller Aquinas Saints by a 43-33 margin and again got at least one board from each of the 10 players who participated.

USF will face host Saint Xavier, a 95-71 winner Sunday night over St. Ambrose (IA), in Monday’s title game at 7 p.m. This marks the first time since 2002 that USF has reached the championship game of the annual 8-team tournament which began in 2001. USF lost to SXU in that 2002 finale by an 81-61 count. SXU (11-3) is currently ranked No. 7 in the NAIA Division I poll. The Cougars beat USF twice in three meetings a year ago.