SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Chidera Okoye and Raquel Smith each scored 12 points but St. Francis was unable to erase a slim third-quarter deficit, falling 54-43 to Rocklin High in varsity girls' basketball action in the SFHS main gym Thursday afternoon.

The Troubadours, which had won six of their previous seven, move to 8-6 heading into their Holy Hoops rivalry game with Christian Brothers.

Smith scored all of her points in the paint on six field goals, while Okoye posted half of her scoring from the free-throw line. Brianna McGahan added another seven tallies, all in the first half, while point guards Jo Jo Myers and Emily Dusel chipped in six points apiece.

The Troubies held an early lead in the contest but trailed by margins of 15-13 after the first and 26-23 at halftime. They escaped the third quarter down just three, only to have the Thunder explode for 19 in the finale. Beau Seipler had 10 of her game-high 24 points in the fourth to steadily add to the Thunder's advantage. 

Chidera also pulled down 14 rebounds for her second double-double of the year. The 12-point output also marked her sixth straight game in double figures.

Rocklin hit nine three-pointers for the game compared to St. Francis' one (by Myers late in the fourth). In fact, the Thunder took more shots from outside the arc (9-for-37) than inside (7-for-29).

SCHEDULE NOTE: The Troubies' scheduled January 4 Delta League home opener with Davis High has been postponed due to COVID-related issues in the Blue Devils' program... The next game is now the January 8 tripleheader: varsity and JV Gold against Christian Brothers, following JV Red's game versus Delta.