ROCKLIN, Calif. – Freshman Elise Vipond poured in 4-for-7 from beyond the three-point arc for a team-leading 26 points as St. Francis overcame a six-point deficit in the second half to claim a 57-54 win over Rocklin in the varsity nightcap of a Sierra Foothill League girls' basketball doubleheader Tuesday night.

The Troubadours improve to 8-7 for the season and even their league record to 2-2. The Thunder slips to 7-10 overall and continue to chase its first SFL win with a 0-4 mark.

Vipond's total marks the fourth 20-plus offensive performance of her young career, and misses her career high by just a single point. In addition to her long-range work, she was equally productive from the free-throw line: 10 of 12 for an .833 clip. In fact, the top three SF scorers enjoyed efficient nights from the stripe: senior Lexi London made 6 of 8 as part of her 17 points, while freshman Hassanah Ramsey-Gilbert hit a perfect 4-for-4 en route to her 10. Ramsey-Gilbert also grabbed a team-best six rebounds, all on the defensive end. London and senior Colleen Medina hit the boards for five apiece.

St. Francis led for much of the first half, including a 22-17 advantage late in the second period. However, Rocklin held a 24-23 lead at the halftime break, then pulled to as much as a 36-30 when junior wing Gisele Negueloua drained a three-pointer with 2:45 left in the third. Vipond answered a minute later by draining a step-back three, and Ramsey-Gilbert soon after knocked down an 18-foot jumper, but the Thunder held onto a 40-39 lead going to the final frame.

Ramsey-Gilbert put the Troubies back on top to start the fourth, first by stuffing a Lily Hoff shot near the right block, then beating Rocklin in the paint on the next trip down. The Thunder reclaimed the 42-41 lead on its next possession, setting the stage for another deep three from Vipond with 6:45 left. Oddly, her go-ahead shot came on the heels of a near steal: Vipond attempted to pass to London at the high post, only to have the ball batted back to her near the top of the key. The SF froshie launched a shot from about 23 feet on the right side, splashing the net for a 44-42 lead.

That margin increased to 48-42 by the 4:33 mark, when London and Natalia Zitelli's trap gave way to Ramsey-Gilbert bucket, and the Troubadours held a two-possession lead for almost the entirety of the final four minutes to protect the win.

The Troubie varsity followed a dominating 55-11 victory for the St. Francis Gold junior varsity squad. Saihej Sekhon shot 10-for-13 from the floor for a career-high 20 points. She also led SF with six rebounds and had two of her team's 22 steals, earning head coach John Bashore's "Hard Hat" award for hustle.

Junior Audrey Bashore followed with 15 points, mostly from the line (9-for-10), sophomore Emmy Cheatham hit a pair of three-pointers toward her eight points, with Anna Maranto and Peyton Smith leading the defensive with five steals apiece.

St. Francis JV Red had the night off, as Rocklin did not field a frosh-soph team in 2025-26. The youngest Troubie squad plays next at Antelope on Thursday at 4:30 p.m. JV Gold returns to action for a 7 p.m. game at Oak Ridge on Thursday night (note: previous schedules listed this as a 5:30 p.m. tip). Varsity then travels to El Dorado Hills the following night to take part in a boys-girls doubleheader with Jesuit.

All three Troubadour squads reunite on Saturday for one of the most anticipated events on the school's athletics calendar: the Holy Hoops rivalry tripleheader with Christian Brothers. JV Red tips at 2:30 p.m., JV Gold at 4 p.m., with varsity taking on the Sac-Joaquin Section's top-ranked Division II team at 5:30 p.m. Tickets will be available to the general public on Wednesday at GoFan.