Flash Points: 

• Sacred Heart was picked to top the NEC this season and defeated RMU on Thursday
• SFU went 0-3 against the Pioneers last season including a loss in the NEC semis
• The Red Flash are looking for their first 2-0 NEC start since 2012-13

LIVE VIDEO |  LIVE STATS| @SFUATHLETICS

FAIRFIELD, CONN.- The Saint Francis Red Flash will look to start NEC play at 2-0 for the first time since the 2012-13 season when they tip-off against defending NEC regular season champion Sacred Heart on Saturday afternoon. 

ABOUT THE FLASH
Saint Francis was able to grind out a 82-79 win at Fairleigh Dickinson on Thursday night behind Jessica Kovatch (Phillipsburg, N.J./Phillipsburg)'s 27 points and eight rebounds. Saint Francis led wire-to-wire on Thursday but despite leading by double digits multiple times, never could put away the pesky Knights until the final horn. Ace Harrison (Baltimore, MD/Digital Harbor (Maryland)) added 16 points, nine rebounds and three blocks in the contest while Halee Adams (Hollidaysburg, Pa./Bishop Guilfoyle (Sienna)) added 10 to put three players in double figures. However, the Flash were out rebounded 54-37 by the Knights including 32-14 on the offensive glass, leading to 27 second-chance points for the Knights on Thursday. Saint Francis is just 3-10 all-time at the Pitt Center, last winning in the 2012-13 season. Sacred Heart won both contests in Connecticut last year including a 92-71 setback in the NEC semi-finals last year. 

ABOUT THE PIONEERS
In a rematch of last year's NEC title game, Sacred Heart exacted a bit of revenge on Robert Morris on Thursday, defeating the Colonials 69-59 behind a white-hot Shelby Hickey. Hickey drained all eight of her shots, including seven threes en route to 23 points in 38 minutes. Reigning NEC Player of the Year Hannah Kimmel was her usual steady self recording 18 points and eight rebounds. SHU had a balanced offensive effort with four players in double figures, the only four players to score in the game. The Pioneer defense held Robert Morris to just 33 percent shooting. On the season, Kimmel leads the Pioneers at nearly 15 points and six rebounds per game. Adaysha Williams is the only other player in double figures, averaging close to 12 points per contest. Those will be two to watch on Saturday, as each have bettered their season stats when taking on SFU. Kimmel has averaged 17. 5 points and nearly 10 rebounds in nine contests while Williams has averaged 13 points, three rebounds and four assists in eight matchups. 

MAKING IT RAIN
The Flash sank another 14 threes on Thursday night, giving them 142 made threes on the season, second in the NCAA behind only Washington. The 14 makes upped the SFU average to 11.8 threes per game, a mark that is tops in division-I. Jessica Kovatch (Phillipsburg, N.J./Phillipsburg) has made 46 of those threes, placing her ninth in the NCAA while her 3.83 threes per game puts her fourth in the country. 

BLOCK PARTY
Saint Francis blocked five more shots on Thursday, giving them 84 on the year, good for tops in the NEC and sixth in the NCAA. The five blocks were a bit below their seven block average, that mark is fifth in the NCAA. 

FOLLOW ALONG
Every Northeast Conference game will be broadcast free of charge on NEC Front Row. Sacred Heart is also providing live stats and we invite you to follow @SFUAthletics on Twitter for in-game stats and updates. All links are available at the top of the page and on the women's basketball schedule. 

LOOKING AHEAD
Saint Francis will return home for the first time since November 28th when they host LIU Brooklyn on Saturday, January 7th. Tip time between the Red Flash and the Blackbirds is set for 1 p.m. /