WBB: USF remains 'perfect', defeats IN Tech

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - The following release is from the University of St. Francis Athletic Department.

On the 12th trip to the basketball court, the University of Saint Francis skipped the partridge in a pear tree, and the drummers drumming and the golden rings.

The Lady Cougars' just went out and got a USF record 12th consecutive win, a hard-fought, physical 78-67 decision at Indiana Tech on Tuesday night.

Now they can enjoy the next six days leading up to Christmas. The 2012-13 Lady Cougars broke the record set by the 1999-00 USF team that won its first 11 games of the season. That team eventually finished runner-up in the NAIA Division II Championships with a 32-2 record.

The seventh-ranked, 12-0 Lady Cougars used an 8-0 run near the midway point of the second half to take control against the scrappy, relentless Warriors (3-10).

Senior Meghan Slusher led USF scoring with 21 points, 12 in the first half, and freshman Brooke Ridley secured her first collegiate double double with 15 points and 11 rebounds. All five USF starters scored in double figures with Kayla Drake contributing 13 points while Skylarr Shurn and Jenelle Wilson chipped in with 10 points apiece.

USF led 37-33 at halftime, but fell behind in the second half.

"I was most pleased with the way we kept our composure and didn't get rattled when we got down in the second half," USF Head Coach Gary Andrews said. "When you get this close, you want to set a record like this, but we're not done. We can get better and improve on our game."