BALTIMORE, Md. (Nov. 22, 2022)--Charlene Shepherd hit the second of two free throw attempts with 2.3 seconds remaining and Shianne Johnson stole a pass at halfcourt as time expired to give Morgan State a 50-49 victory over Saint Francis-Pa. on Tuesday evening at Hill Field House.
 
The win helped the Lady Bears close out their current homestand to start the season with a perfect 6-0 mark. Morgan State improved to 2-0 all-time against the Red Flash and extended its home winning streak to 12 straight dating back to last season. It was also the Lady Bears 32^nd home win in their last 35 home contests.
 
Shepherd, who connected on 5-of-7 from the free throw line, finished with 13 points and five rebounds. Taylor Addison tallied her first double-double of the season, totaling a game-high 13 rebounds and scoring 12 points. Emily Jones came off the bench to score nine points and had a game-high four steals.
 
Saint Francis-Pa. (0-5) trailed 16-10 after one quarter of play, but outscored Morgan State 29-9 in the second quarter to take a 39-25 halftime lead.
 
Destini Ward knocked down two free throws with 1:19 left in the second quarter to cap off a 17-2 spurt by the Red Flash and give the guests a 14-point advantage at 37-23. SFU led 39-25 at the intermission.
 
Ward would finish the game going perfect from the floor, shooting 3-for-3, including one trey and 7-for-7 from the free throw line to score a game-high 14 points.
 
Morgan State tightened up the defense in the second half, as the Lady Bears held the Red Flash to just 10 points in the entire second half. Morgan got back in the game by using a 14-4 run in the third quarter, holding the guests to 2-of-7 (28.5 percent) shooting in the quarter.
 
Sam Miller scored on a layup with 1:19 to play in the game to give the Red Flash a 49-45 lead. Ja'Niah Henson scored on a jumper and Jones then got a steal and laid it in to even the score at 49 all with15 seconds remaining.
 
The Red Flash's Filippa Goula turned the ball over with 8.5 seconds left, giving the ball back to the Lady Bears and setting the stage for the end game heroics of Shepherd and Johnson.
 
Morgan State will play outside the continental US and spend the Thanksgiving holiday in San Juan, Puerto Rico, as it takes part in the Puerto Rico Clasico (Nov. 24-25). Morgan State will face Stephen F. Austin on Thursday, Nov. 24 in the opener and will close out the tournament against Boston College on Friday, Nov. 25.