JOLIET, Ill. - Olivet Nazarene scored the game's final 11 points over the last 1:35 to overcome a 72-65 deficit and defeat University of St. Francis, 76-72, in a Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference women's basketball tournament semifinal game at the Recreation Center Thursday night.

The Saints (17-13) appeared to have control of the game after senior forward Kaci Baird (Bartlett H.S./Bartlett, IL) pushed the margin to 7 points at 72-65 with a layup at the 2:19 mark. But the Saints failed to put the game away at the free throw line as they missed both a one-and-bonus opportunity by senior Katie Carls (St. Bede Academy/Spring Valley, IL) at the 2:06 point and a pair by senior Anna Sears (Providence Catholic H.S./Mokena, IL) at the 0:43 juncture.

In addition to the missed chances at the line, USF also turned the ball over four times in the final two minutes and missed its only two shots from the floor.

Olivet (16-16) cut the 7-point deficit down to just three points with a basket at the 1:35 mark and another one at the 1:03 mark following a USF turnover in the backcourt. The Saints were still clinging to that 3-point edge when Sears, an 81 percent free throw shooter, missed both attempts with 43 seconds left.

Olivet then trimmed the margin to a single point with a basket at the 33-second mark. The Tigers then got the ball back just eight seconds later with a steal in the backcourt and Jaimie Buckman gave them their first lead since it was 3-2 in the opening minutes when she nailed a 3-point shot from the top of the key.

Now trailing by 2 points at 74-72 with 25 seconds left, USF got the ball down court but missed its chance to tie when sophomore center Jen Andes (Hall H.S./Princeton, IL) missed an off-balance driving layup at the 14-second mark. USF then fouled Buckman who made both free throws with 11 seconds left to ice the comeback win for the Tigers.

USF was led in scoring by sophomore reserve guard Julie Schiffler (Nazareth Academy/La Grange Park, IL) who came off the bench to score a career-best 22 points. Baird and senior guard Jacqie Storm (Sandburg H.S./Orland Park, IL) each scored 10 for the Saints and senior forward Kellie Fazio (Leyden H.S./Rosemont, IL) led all players in the game with 15 rebounds.

The loss ends USF's season as the Saints' current ranking of No. 35 in the final NAIA Division I women's basketball poll will not be high enough to help them secure an at-large invitation to the 32-team field in the national tournament.