HAMMOND, Ind. – Despite a valiant fourth-quarter comeback to force No. 1 St. Francis (Ill) to its first overtime game of the season, host and No. 15 Purdue University Northwest couldn't answer late in Wednesday's 78-69 loss at the Fitness & Recreation Center.

The loss snapped a five-game winning streak for the Pride (20-7, 15-3 Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference) and kept the top-ranked Fighting Saints (25-0, 18-0) undefeated with four regular-season games remaining.

PNW's Cassidy Deno (Otterbein, Ind./Benton Central) (Otterbein, Ind./Benton Central) led the way, netting her seventh double-double of the season with 28 points and 12 rebounds and classmate Darien Thompson (Anderson, Ind./Anderson) (Anderson, Ind./Anderson) added 24 points in the setback.

USF opened the contest leading 25-18 in a offensive-minded first quarter before both teams evened at 10 each in the second frame with the Fighting Saints up at the break, 35-28. Thompson led the way in the first 20 minutes, scoring 10 points on 4-of-10 from the field.

The third frame saw yet another even quarter at 17-apiece setting up PNW's pivotal fourth frame, with the Saints up seven, 52-45. Deno would hit a jumper and then a triple with just under four minutes to play to bring the Pride within four on two separate occasions, but the Saints answered both charges.

It looked like USF might pull away on Kaitlin Aylward's jumper to give the visitor a six-point advantage, 63-57, with 2:16 left, but the Pride would have one final run. Two free-throws by Deno and a USF turnover led to a Thompson layup to bring PNW within two, 63-61, with 1:08 left. After a timeout, the Pride capitalized off two missed USF free throws to set up Deno's tying basket, a layup off her own miss with 22 ticks to go.

Charnelle Reed's answer wouldn't go to force the Saints to their first overtime period of the season. Deno opened the fifth frame with another clutch triple – she would finish 3-of-7 from downtown – but USF would outscore the Pride 15-3 down the stretch to seal the win.

PNW finished 33.3 percent (19-of-57)  from the field compared to 35.4 percent (28-of-79) for USF, and the Saints would win the rebounding battle, 53-47, and outscore the host in the paint, 30-16.

USF also forced PNW into 22 turnovers compared to just 14 for the Saints.

Kamari Jordan led the Saints with 17 points and Jordan Giddings and Reed added 16 apiece.

PNW junior Ellie Michalski (Mukwonago, Wis./Mukwonago) (Mukwonago, Wis./Mukwonago) chipped in four points and eight rebounds and senior Katie Wampler (Scottsburg, Ind./Scottsburg) (Scottsburg, Ind./Scottsburg) added four points and six boards in the loss.

The Pride return to action Saturday, Feb. 11, with a  CCAC contest in Notre Dame, Ind., at Holy Cross College. Game time is set for noon CT.