Saint Francis University Athletics

Flash Points

• Saint Francis held Coastal to just 18 percent shooting in first half
• SFU used a 12-0 second quarter run to break the game open
• Five players scored at least eight points in a balanced effort
• Harrison finished with 16 points and 17 rebounds

Conway, S.C.- Saint Francis used stifling first-half defense and a balanced offensive attack to snap a two-game losing streak with a 70-59 victory over the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers. 

Saint Francis put three players in double figures led by 18 from Maya Wynn (Reisterstown, Md./McDonogh). Jessica Kovatch (Phillipsburg, N.J./Phillipsburg) added 17 and Ace Harrison (Baltimore, MD/Digital Harbor (Maryland)) chipped in 16 points to go along with 17 rebounds. Harrison's 17 rebounds are a career-high and were the most by a Saint Francis player since Brielle Ward (Baltimore, Md./Western (Hampton U)) ripped down 15 against Fairleigh Dickinson on February 1st. 

The Red Flash jumped out early on the Chanticleers, thanks to three early threes from Maya Wynn (Reisterstown, Md./McDonogh). She had 11 of her 18 in the first quarter to help the Flash put up 25 first quarter points and lead 25-14 after 10 minutes. 

SFU turned up the defensive intensity in the second quarter, holding Coastal to just five total points and scoreless for a seven-minute stretch. The Red Flash used the CCU drought to fuel a 12-0 run as the Flash led by as many as 25 in the quarter. The Flash forced Coastal into 15 consecutive missed shots and just three offensive rebounds. A Kovatch three off a steal beat the halftime horn and sent SFU into the locker room up 44-19. 

Things settled down in the third quarter as the teams traded baskets for much of the quarter. SFU hit their high-water mark of a 26-point lead on a Harrison three midway through the quarter. Another Harrison three quieted a quick 6-0 run by the Chanticleers and a Kovatch bucket with just seconds to go sent SFU into the final frame up 24 at 56-32. 

Coastal's press gave the Red Flash fits in the fourth quarter as the Flash turned it over 12 times, leading to 12 Coastal points. The Chanticleers whittled away at the lead, but it would be too little too late. Saint Francis withstood the charge and got timely baskets from Wynn and Kovatch. The buckets helped to stop the Coastal momentum and SFU ran out the clock en route to its third win of the season. 

Saint Francis won the rebounding battle 49-44 thanks in part to Harrison's 17 and SFU improved to 2-0 on the year when out rebounding the opposition. Coastal had a 20-12 edge on the offensive glass however, leading to a 10-9 second-chance points advantage. SFU did turn it over 29 times, leading to 24 Chanticleer points and forced 17 turnovers of their own, leading to 13 points. 

The win puts SFU at 3-4 on the season and drops Coastal to 3-5. SFU enters the second-leg of their five-game road trip on Wednesday night at 7 when they take on South Florida.