SFU GAME NOTES  |  FDU GAME NOTES |LIVE STATS | NEC FRONT ROW (VIDEO)


LORETTO, PA- The Saint Francis women's basketball team will look to run their win streak to four and start 5-1 in the NEC for the first time since 2010-11 when they host the Fairleigh Dickinson Knights on Monday night at DeGol Arena. 

ABOUT THE FLASH
The Red Flash are off to a strong start in Northeast Conference play, taking four of the first five contests, including three straight. On Saturday, the Flash stymied the Mountaineers of Mount St. Mary's in an 87-57 victory. SFU held the Mount to just seven second-quarter points and put together four separate double-digit runs in the blowout victory. Jess Kovatch led four players in double figures with 22 points in the victory. Courtney Zezza (Plum, Pa./Plum) had a career-high 12 points while Brielle Ward (Baltimore, Md./Western (Hampton U)) crashed the glass with 10 rebounds.  Rebounding will be a big key to Monday's game, FDU leads the NEC with 15 offensive rebounds per game. SFU turned 26 Mountaineer turnovers into 31 points on Saturday, they will look to do the same to the Knights who turn it over nearly 20 times per game. 

The Flash will come into Monday's game leading the conference in several categories, including:  assists/g (15.9), blocks/game (4.9), total steals (179), steals per game (11.2), turnover margin (+1.9), and turnovers forced (22.3).

ABOUT THE KNIGHTS
Fairleigh Dickinson is coming in to Loretto following a big win at then-NEC leader Robert Morris 83-68. The Knights shot over 50 percent for the game and rode a 54-point second half to the win. The Knights were also strong on the glass against the Colonials, out rebounding RMU 47-33. The Red Flash will have to find an answer to Kelsey Cruz (18.1 ppg) and Erika Livermore (16.3 ppg/7.3 rpg), who pace the Knights offensively. Rebounds and defense will play a big role on Monday, the Knights are winless when shooting under 40 percent (0-9) and 1-10 when they are out rebounded.  Courtsey of FDU sports info, the Knights rank as follows in the NEC:  Scoring offense - 4th (64.2),Scoring defense - 9th (73.3),FT percentage - 5th (70.6%), FG% defense - 3rd (40.1%), Rebounding off/def - 2nd/8th (39.6/40.5),Total Rebounds - 1st (714),  Steals - 4th (131).

ABOUT THE MATCHUP
Saint Francis leads the all-time series against the Knights 36-21 but the Knights have won the last two meetings, sweeping last year's series by nearly identical scores (78-65 at SFU and 78-63 at FDU). Joe Haigh is 4-2 all time against the Knights while Peter Cinella is 4-12 overall against the Red Flash. 

LOOKING AHEAD
The Flash embark on their longest conference road trip next weekend, traveling to Central Connecticut and Bryant. The Blue Devils are up first on Saturday, tip time from the Nutmeg State is set for 1 p.m..