ADRIAN, Mich. – The Franciscan women's lacrosse team dropped a hard-fought battle to the ninth-ranked NAIA team, Siena Heights, 16-8, Sunday afternoon.
 
The Saints scored the game's first goal just 54 seconds into action though the lead would be short lives as freshman Grace Deegan continued her stellar inaugural campaign and tied the game with 26:55 left in the first. Siena Heights then went on a seven-goal run to take an 8-1 lead with 16:35 to play.
 
Senior Carly McDonald halted the run with her first goal of the game to cut the lead to 8-2 with 15:34 left before the break. The Saints won the ensuing draw control but senior keeper Brittany Bain made a pair of saves in the next Siena Heights possession to keep the score at 8-2. Deegan added her second tally of the game after senior Elizabeth Jordan picked up a ground ball on a Saint turnover and the Lady Barons completed the successful clear. Senior Elizabeth McEntee added an assist to Deegan's goal at 11:46.
 
The Saints got a goal back on a free position shot on their next possession and pushed their lead to 10-3 with 7:23 left on Katherine Tapia's goal.
 
After two more Saint goals, McDonald posted her second goal of the game with 1:16 left on a free position shot to cut the deficit to 12-4 at the break.
 
Deegan opened the second half with her third goal of the game before Siena Heights went on a 3-0 run to take a 15-5 lead with 24:03 left in regulation.
 
The Lady Barons out-scored the Saints 3-1 in the final 15:50 of the game. McEntee kicked off the scoring run with her first goal of the game before Deegan added her fourth after the final Saint goal. McEntee posted the final goal of the game with 4:49 to play to bring the score to its final, 16-8.
 
Bain made 16 saves in the net for the Lady Barons while Deegan led the team with four goals. Bain and Jordan each picked up four ground balls.
 
Franciscan returns to action when the Lady Barons travel to Medaille on Wednesday for a 6:00 pm contest.