FULL PREGAME RELEASE (pdf)

The Red Flash will try for their third-straight win against Central Connecticut State in Monday's 7 p.m. matchup with the Blue Devils.  Saint Francis is 17-6 against CCSU since the series began during the 1997-98 season, with the Flash taking three of the last five meetings.

Despite dropping a close, 54-51, decision at Robert Morris on Satruday, the Blue Devils (13-8; 6-5 NEC) still enter Monday's contest as one of the Northeast Conference's hottest teams.  CCSU won five in a row prior to its loss at the hands of the league-leading Colonials.

The game will also pit the NEC's most prolific offense against the league's stingiest defensive unit.  The Red Flash enter the contest averaging 68.5 points per game, while the Blue Devils allow only 54.8 points per game.

Susan Robinson Fruchtl-led squads are 1-1 against Central Connecticut State at DeGol Arena.  The Blue Devils, however, have won three of the last four meetings in Loretto, dating back to the 2005-06 season.  The Red Flash have won seven of eight at home this season.


NEXT UP: ROBERT MORRIS
As a part of the NEC's 'Rivalry Week' the Red Flash will meet Robert Morris twice next weekend.  The games will go a long way in determining home-court advantage during the upcoming
postseason, as both teams are tied atop the league standings.  RMU owns a 34-32 edge in the all-time series and has won 10 of the last 12 regular season meetings dating back to the 2004-05 campaign.  During that stretch, SFU is a perfect 3-0 vs. the Colonials in the postseason.


Leach named to Capital One Academic All-District® Team
Samantha Leach (Mount Sterling, Ohio/Miami Trace) has been named to 2010-11 Capital One Academic All-District II® Women's Basketball First Team.  Leach will now advance to the national Capital One Academic All-America® Team ballot. An elementary/special education major, Leach has compiled a 3.55 GPA during her academic career. A student-athlete must be a starter or key reserve and maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.30 to be eligible for nomination to the All-District ballot. CoSIDA's District II is comprised of Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.


NEC?semifinal rematch to be televised
Saint Francis will host Robert Morris in a televised rematch of last season's thrilling Northeast Conference semifinal game on Saturday, Feb. 12.  The day will be a busy one for the Red Flash, who will also host their annual PinkZone and Alumni Day.


DALY REACHES 1,000-POINT MILESTONE
By scoring an even 14 points in Jan. 10's 75-62 win over Mount St. Mary's, senior Allison Daly (Harrisburg, Pa./Trinity) became Saint Francis' 20th 1,000-point scorer.  After scoring only 75 points as a freshman in 2007-08, Daly averaged just over 360 points per season as a sophomore and junior.


LILLEY RANKS AMONG NATION'S LEADERS
Brittany Lilley (Severna Park, Md./Severna Park)'s 15 assists against Kent State tied for the second-most in an NCAA?Division I game so far this season.  As of Feb. 3, her 5.4 helpers per contest also ranked 19th in the country. 


ROBINSON FRUCHTL NOTCHES 50th WIN
Saint Francis head coach Susan Robinson Fruchtl earned her 50th career win with Jan. 24th's victory, 72-60, victory over St. Francis (N.Y.).  Looking ahead, Robinson Fruchtl needs five wins to catch her predecessor Jill Poe (2003-07) in career wins.  Poe went 57-62 in her four seasons at the helm.


FRESHMAN WILLIAMS HEATING UP
Alli Williams (Altoona, Pa./Bishop Guilfoyle) has averaged 10.1 points per game since exploding for 29 points against Kent State on Dec. 4.  After joining the starting lineup a game later in place of injured Shené Fleming, Williams scored 22 points at Howard and also had a strong outing at Duquesne, scoring 13.  She notched her first career double-double (11 pts/10 reb) vs. St. Francis (N.Y.) on Jan. 24.  With 136 boards, she is currenly SFU's no. two rebounder.


DEEP THREATS LEACH, DALY PACE POTENT PERIMETER OFFENSE
As of Thursday's NCAA Statistical report, the Flash can stake claim to the country's 28th-best three-point field goal percentage.  Shooting a collective 35.6 percent (144-for-405), Saint Francis is paced from long range by the NEC's three-point leader Allison Daly (Harrisburg, Pa./Trinity).  Daly is shooting 41.1 percent (60-for-146) from the arc.  Senior Samantha Leach (Mount Sterling, Ohio/Miami Trace), who converts at a 41.8 percent (41-for-98) clip, is close behind.


SFU'S STRUGGLES AT THE LINE CONTINUE
The Red Flash have struggled from the free throw line this season, converting on only 273 of 439 (62.2%) opportunities through 23 contests.  Samantha Leach (Mount Sterling, Ohio/Miami Trace) is currently SFU's strongest option from the line, converting 72 of 84 attempts (85.7 percent) on the season.  Saint Francis' best FT shooter, however, may be Rhonda Watts (Alabaster, Ala./Thompson) who shot 94 percent from the foul line in high school.  Watts is sitting out the 2010-11 campaign after transferring from VCU.