BROOKLYN, N.Y. – Ashley Christie (Miamisburg, Ohio/Archbishop Alter) keyed a 12-6 run to close the game with seven points to power Mount St. Mary's past St. Francis (N.Y.) 49-46 in Northeast Conference (NEC) women's basketball action on Monday.     

Trailing 40-37 with 6:54 left, Christie started the decisive run with a free throw at 6:15 and then gave the Mount (8-11, 4-4 NEC) its first lead of the night on a traditional 3-point play at 5:19 for a 41-40 lead. Sarah Benedetti momentarily regained the lead for the Terriers (2-17, 1-7 NEC) with a layup at 3:21, but Christie drained a 3-pointer from the corner at 2:45 to give the Mountaineers the lead for good at 44-42. Mount St. Mary's then converted 5 of 6 free throws to seal the victory in the final 1:46.

Sydney Henderson (Mechanicsville, Va./Atlee) paced the Mount with 13 points. Kayla Grossett (Toronto, Ontario/David and Mary Thompson C.I.) added 11 points and Christie finished the game with nine points in the winning effort.

Sarah Benedetti fueled St. Francis (N.Y.) with 14 points and Jaymee Veney tallied 14 points and 12 rebounds in the loss.

The Mount rallied from a nine-point halftime deficit and took the lead in the final six minutes of the game and held on for its second road win of the season. The Mountaineers ended a seven-game road losing streak with the victory.     

Mount St. Mary's started the second half on a 9-0 run to erase a 31-22 deficit. Grossett started the surge with a basket at 17:36 before Henderson nailed a 3-ball at 17:02. Grossett made it a two-point game with a layup at 16:26 and Tara Lonergan (Rockville Centre, N.Y./South Side) tied the game at 14:26 on a layup.

The Terriers would grab a 38-33 lead thanks to a 5-0 surge with 8:33 on the clock. Henderson then hit a free throw at 8:12 and registered a traditional 3-point play 7:53 to trim the margin to 38-37. Veney answered with a layup at 6:54 to restore a three-point edge. Christie then started the crucial 12-6 run to give the Mountaineers the lead for good. Mathews and Henderson converted 5 of 6 from the line in the closing minutes and Christie caused a St. Francis (N.Y.) charge to help clinch the victory

In the first half, St. Francis (N.Y.) closed the stanza on a 13-4 run in the final 5:28 to grab a 31-22 lead going into the locker room. It was only the second time that the Terriers have held a league against Mount St. Mary's at halftime and the first since Jan. 6, 2005.

After the Mount tied the game for the second time on the night at 18 on a Christie layup at 5:47, the Terriers scored the next six points. Veney started the run with a layup at 5:28 before Benedetti nailed a trey at 4:35 and Jessica Kaufman converted 1 of 2 at the line at 3:57 for a 24-18 edge.

Sandra Andresson (Tallinn, Estonia/Audentes School) and Eilidh Simpson then traded baskets before back-to-back 3-balls from Benedetti and Veney gave St. Francis (N.Y.) a 31-21 lead. Grossett closed the scoring in the half by making the backend of two free throws with 10.6 seconds left to cut the margin to 31-22 at the break.

Jessie Kaufman (Damascus, Md./Damascus) notched a career-high eight rebounds and played her  given name counterpart Jessica Kaufman from St. Francis (N.Y.) for the first time. Jessica Kaufman missed the first meeting this season in Emmitsburg due to an injury.

The Mountaineers started the game 7 of 14 from the free throw line, but closed the game 7 of 9 down the stretch. Henderson has scored double figures in eight-straight games.

Mount St. Mary's returns to action on Saturday at Sacred Heart. Game time is 1 p.m.