LORETTO, Pa. (Feb. 17, 2010) - The Saint Francis women's basketball team will begin their final homestand of the season when they host Quinnipiac on Thursday evening at DeGol Arena. Tip off is set for 5 p.m.
Series History
Tonight is the 22nd attl-time meeting between the two teams. Saint Francis holds the series record at 14-7, keeping a strong lead after splitting the two games last season. The Bobcats took the first game in January of 2008-09 by a score of 77-66, but the Red Flash picked up a 70-59 win to close out the season. The two teams ended tthe season in a three-way tie for third place with Monmouth. Because they had the best winning percentage of all three teams, the Red Flash had sole posession of third place going into the tournament.
This Could be the Clincher
A win against Quinnipiac, combined with losses by Mount St. Mary's and Fairleigh Dickinson, would clinch a spot in the NEC?tournament for the Red Flash. Coincidentally, it was the win agains the Bobcats last season that officially put SFU?in the tournament. MSM?faces CCSU?on Thursday, while FDU?takes on SFNY.
Twice is Nice
After losing both regular season games to Central Connecticut State last season, the Red Flash have more than made up for it. They defeated the Blue Devils to knock them out of the NEC?Tournament in 2008-09, and then took their lone regular season meeting in 2009-10 by a score of 64-45.
One and Done
All of SFU's games through Feb. 20 are all expecially important. This season, the Red Flash will play Bryant, CCSU, Quinnipiac and Sacred Heart just once in the regular season. To have any standing in a tiebreaker, the Flash must get the win. Bryant does not count in the standings, but SFU?has already gotten off the right start by defeating SFU?last Saturday. Furthermore, SFU?must also get a win from Wagner (Feb. 27)?to tie that series after falling in January.
Follow the Leader
With just two exceptions all season, Samantha Leach (Mount Sterling, Ohio/Miami Trace) or Britney Hodges (Dayton, Ohio/Mount de Chantal) have led the team in scoring all season long. Saturday marked Leach's eighth time as the team's leading scorer, as well as her 18th game scoring in double-figures. Hodges has led scoring 14 times, and has put up 20+ points seven times this season.
1,000 Point Watch
Samantha Leach (Mount Sterling, Ohio/Miami Trace) conintues to come closer and closer to her 1,000th career point. Leach had 21 points against CCSU to cross the 900 poin threshold. She now sits at 909 points in her career.
