SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Junior Mackenzie Le scored a game-high 15 points including 5-of-7 at the line in the fourth quarter as St. Francis clinched a 51-45 victory over Elk Grove Friday night in the Delta League home opener.

"We have been working really hard on our offense and defense and starting to work together more as a team," said Le, whose recorded a season-high with her point total and the second-best scoring game of her career.

St. Francis (9-9, 2-1) led in the first on the strength of three-pointers by Le and senior Nicole Rivera. The Troubadours extended the lead in the second, finishing the quarter by holding the Herd to 14 first-half points and keeping Elk Grove scoreless for the first four and half minutes of the period.

"It was really momentum in the quarter," said Le. "If one of us got a steal, then it pumped the rest of us and we needed that energy."

Elk Grove, undefeated in league play entering the night, would not go down quietly, got back in the game in the fourth. After cutting the deficit to 34-29 in the third, the Herd tied the game at 37 and led by a point at one point. But, the Troubies then went on a 7-0 run for some breathing room.

Le, who leads the league in assists per game at 5.2, clinched the game at the line, scoring seven points in the quarter, including her performance at the line. Junior Sarah Cloninger had a big basket and senior Jasmine Lee had a key three-pointer to help the winning effort.

"Coach Mike always stresses hoe important free throws are and they are free points and have to knock them own," said Le. "We have been working on free throws as a team and I think it really helped."

Le led the team with 15 points with six boards, three assists and four steals. Cloninger had a game-high 14 boards to go with eight points and six steals, while senior Mia Fleming Mullins contributed 14 points and six boards.

St. Francis hits the road again on Tuesday at Pleasant Grove.