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LORETTO, Pa. (Nov. 27, 2012) – The Saint Francis University women's basketball team concludes its two-game road-trip Wednesday with a 7 p.m. tip-off against Kent State University.
 
JUST THE FACTS
Saint Francis Red Flash (3-1, 0-0 NEC) vs.
Kent State Golden Flashes (0-5, 0-0 Mid-American Conference)
Where: MAC Center – Kent, Ohio
When: Wednesday | 7 p.m.
ALL-TIME: Series Tied 1-1
LAST TIME: SFU 101, Kent State 92, (OT) Dec. 4, 2010
 
BROADCAST INFO:
Audio Broadcast – Redzonemedia.com
BROADCASTERS:
Dave Franczak and Jeff Symonds
 
SETTING THE STAGE
Saint Francis seeks just its sixth 4-1 to start a season in school history and its first since Jill Poe opened her first season as the Red Flash head coach with a 4-1 mark in the 2003-04 season. Saint Francis opened this season with three consecutive wins before falling to nationally ranked Ohio State Nov. 20 on the road. Kent State has struggled so far this season under new head coach Danielle O'Banion, who is still looking for her first win as the Kent State bench boss. The Golden Flashes have lost all five of their games so far this season but have only played once at home and fell to Cincinnati.
 
The Red Flash have been led in the early going of the 2012-13 season by preseason All-NEC selection Alli Williams (Altoona, Pa./Bishop Guilfoyle), who has three double-doubles this season and three 20-point efforts. Williams missed her fourth consecutive double-double to start the season by fouling out with 6:33 remaining against Ohio State. The junior forward still posted solid numbers with 16 points and seven rebounds. Shene Fleming (Dayton, Ohio/Chaminade-Julienne), who missed all of last season with an injury, led SFU in field goal percentage to start 2012-13 with a mark of 53.1-percent. Brittany Lilley (Severna Park, Md./Severna Park), who also missed all of last season with injury, ranks first on the Flash in assists with 3.0-assists a contest.   
 
The Golden Flashes are led on offense by Diamon Beckford, who averages 8.2 points a game as no member of Kent State averages double-digits in scoring or rebounds entering Wednesday showdown. The Golden Flashes have shot the ball reasonably well to start the season and hold a 32-percent field goal percentage. KSU has struggled from behind the 3-point arc and holds just a 16-percent 3-point shooting percentage.
 
RANKING THE RED FLASH
The Red Flash are off to one of its best starts in school history with wins in their first three games before falling on the road to nationally ranked Ohio State. The NCAA has not posted its Rating Percentage Index (RPI) so far this season but two other agencies have and both rank the Red Flash in the Top 20. WarrenNolan.com and RealTimeRPI.com both have the Red Flash ranked in the Top 20 of the RPI. RealTimeRPI.com ranks the Red Flash 12th nationally out of the 346 schools in Division I, just behind Gonzaga and just ahead of Syracuse. SFU ranks ahead of every school in the Big 12 and the Atlantic 10 and SFU also stands ahead of defending National Champion Baylor in the RPI. WarrenNolan.com places the Red Flash tied for 14th in the RPI with Rutgers and just ahead of Georgetown and Michigan. WarrenNolan.com also ranks the Red Flash's schedule as one of the Top 25 toughest schedules in all of Division I. RPI is often a key factor in determining at large bids for the NCAA tournament as well as seeding in the Tournament. SFU is currently not receiving any votes in either of the national polls but they are receiving votes in the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25 for the second consecutive week.    
 
LAST TIME OUT: OHIO STATE 70, SFU 54
The Saint Francis University women's basketball team posted an excellent first half, but fell short on the road against No. 16 Ohio State, 70-54.
 
The Red Flash posted a strong effort and trailed the Buckeyes by just three at the half, but struggled in the second half to get defensive stops. Alli Williams (Altoona, Pa./Bishop Guilfoyle) posted 16 points and seven rebounds, but was limited to just 28 minutes due to foul trouble. Shene Fleming (Dayton, Ohio/Chaminade-Julienne) had the Value City Arena crowd of 2,625 on edge, as she played strong with 11 points and five rebounds. OSU's Taylor Hill netted 23 points including 17 in the second half to give the Buckeyes their 27th consecutive home win. Alexa Hayward (Beaver Falls, Pa./Blackhawk) posted her best game of the young season for SFU with 13 points, but it was not enough against a balanced Buckeye attack, which had five players in double figures.
 
GET TO KNOW THE GOLDEN FLASHES
Similar to Saint Francis, Kent State also had a head coaching change in the offseason. Things have started a little slower for Danielle O'Banion as Kent State has been unable to earn a win in its first five contests. The Golden Flashes have played some quality opponents in Cincinnati and Georgia Southern and will look to bounce back against SFU. Senior forward Diamon Beckford leads the way in scoring for KSU with 11.0-points per-game, Beckford is a perfect 12-12 from the charity stripe in 2012. Senior guard Tamzin Barroilhet leads the Flashes in rebounding, pulling down just over five per contest.
 
NUMBERS TO KNOW
0 – Saint Francis has never beaten Kent State in Kent and the Red Flash have never knocked off the Golden Flashes in regulation time but the teams have met just twice.
 
.227- SFU ranks second in the NEC in 3-point defense, the Flash have only allowed 15 of 66 this season.
 
2- The number of times SFU and Kent State have met previously. The last meeting between the two schools came Dec. 4, 2010.
 
3 – Kent State is the third consecutive opponent from the State of Ohio that the Flash have played this season.
 
5th- Junior forward Shene Fleming (Dayton, Ohio/Chaminade-Julienne) ranks fifth in the NEC in field goal percentage.
 
12.8 – Alli Williams (Altoona, Pa./Bishop Guilfoyle) averages 12.8 rebounds a game to lead the Red Flash. She has recorded double-digit rebounds in three of her first four games this season.
 
13 –Alexa Hayward (Beaver Falls, Pa./Blackhawk) scored a season-high against Ohio State, she knocked down three 3-point field goals.
 
40 – Williams has 40 career double-figure scoring efforts to her credit.
 
143- SFU has scored more points in the second half compared to its 116 scored in the first half.
 
UP NEXT
Saint Francis returns home to DeGol Arena to face off against Saint Joseph's at 1 p.m. Saturday.