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The Red Flash welcomes surging Sacred Heart on Monday to wrap up a two-game conference home stand. The Pioneers downed Robert Morris, 71-64, on Saturday to improve to 12-4 and 5-0 in the Northeast Conference.
Saint Francis, on the other hand, suffered a rare home loss to an NEC team – just its second in 19 games – in addition to giving up over 80 points to a league opponent for the first time since Feb. 11, 2010. All-in-all, it was the latest chapter in what has been an up-and-down season for the Cardinal Red & White.
SFU is 3-2 in early league action for the second time under Susan Robinson Fruchtl. The Flash previously accomplished the feat in 2009-10, en route to an 11-7 NEC record and its record 10th league title. Last season, Saint Francis started conference play with five consecutive wins.
The Pioneers hold an 11-8 edge in the all-time series against the Flash, including last season's contest in Fairfield, Conn. SFU claimed the teams' only matchup a season ago, 77-64. Saint Francis has managed only two wins in the teams' last 10 meetings.
Sacred Heart is led, offensively, by forward Callen Taylor, who averages 17.9 points and 10.1 rebounds per contest. Freshman guard Gabrielle Washington also averages a double-digit scoring total (11.2).
Next up for the Red Flash is a two-game road trip to the Garden State to take on Fairleigh Dickinson and Monmouth. SFU earned home wins over bother the Knights and the Hawks earlier this season.
