CLEVELAND, Tenn. – The Saint Leo women's basketball team fell 81-47 to Lee on the final day of the GSC/SSC South Region Crossover tournament Saturday afternoon. The Lions put up a fight against the Lee Flames, who are ranked sixth in the region, but the game slipped away in the third inside the Paul Dana Walker Arena.

"Lee is a fine club with tremendous balance and experience. We held our own through a volatile first half, but they severely outplayed us in the second half," said head coach Anthony Crocitto. "They shot incredibly well, defended us for thirty seconds every possession, and showed why they are one of the best in the region."
 
Saint Leo (1-1) was led by double trouble Amanda Ulrich and Kiki McIntyre with 11 points apiece. Meanwhile, Tori Lesko continued to carry the Green and Gold off the rim with a team-high nine rebounds against the Flames. The graduate student forward closed the opening weekend averaging 9.5 boards per game. Freshman Chynna Mattair helped the offensive efforts with eight points going 3-for-6 from the floor against the tournament hosts.

"I thought Jenni Whitlow shined in her first college start, as did Chynna Mattair, who once again had a great day off the bench."
 
Lee (2-0) expanded a seven-point halftime lead (40-33) into double digits off a 12-point run in the middle of the third (59-39). The Flames were just warming up as Lee kept Saint Leo from scoring a bucket in the fourth for a final score of 81-47.

"We need to continually remember this second half and use it as motivation to fuel our growth. We are clearly better than those second half numbers but not today. Overall, this was a tournament of growth as we discovered some depth and got the first victory of the season."
 
Crocitto concluded, "We need to regroup for our home opener. We hope as many Saint Leo fans as possible make it out to see these women play come Wednesday evening."

Saint Leo looks ahead to their season home opener on Tuesday, Nov. 17 in the Marion Bowman Activities Center hosting the Flagler Saints at 7:00 p.m.
 
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