FAIRFIELD, CT-  Courtney Zezza (Plum, Pa./Plum) had a career-high 17, leading four players in double figures but Hannah Kimmel's 28 led a big second-half comeback for Sacred Heart in a 80-67 Pioneer victory on Saturday afternoon.

"Give Sacred Heart a lot of credit, that is a great team," Coach Joe Haigh said. "Kimmel is a player of the year type for a reason, she hit some big shots late and we missed some open looks in the second half."

The Flash started white hot, hitting threes on their first two possessions to lead 6-0 early. The Pioneers struggled from the field in the opening minutes and the Flash continued to grow their lead. A Zezza three highlighted a 7-0 run midway through the quarter that put SFU up 22-9, their largest lead of the game. The Flash would lead 26-15 after the first.

A quick start by the Pioneers in the second quarter brought the lead down to three. Maya Wynn (Reisterstown, Md./McDonogh) stopped the 8-0 run with a three to start the Red Flash response. SFU answered with an 8-0 run of their own to lead 34-23 at the under-five timeout. SHU would get no closer than seven the rest of the quarter and the teams went scoreless for the half's final 90 seconds, Saint Francis led 38-31 at the break.

Sacred Heart jumped out in the third quarter, going on a 8-2 run to cut the Flash lead to one at 40-39. The Pioneers took their first lead of the game on a Kimmel three and a following lay-up gave SHU a 44-40 advantage. Another Zezza three cut the lead to one and a Samiah Bethel (Jacksonville, Fla./Potter's House Christian Academy) lay-in on the following possession tied it, but the Flash would never re-take the lead. Tykera Carter hit a three and got behind the defense on consecutive possessions to open the Pioneers' lead to six at the end of the third, 56-50.

Five-straight points by Maya Wynn (Reisterstown, Md./McDonogh) early in the fourth, broke a three minute drought for both teams and got the Flash within three at 58-55. An 8-0 Pioneer run followed to stretch the lead out to 11 at 66-55 midway through the frame. Saint Francis had a couple of buckets rim out, leading to transition baskets by the Pioneers. Another Wynn three brought the Flash within nine at 69-60, but that would be as close as it got. The Pioneers clinched the game from the line and with the victory, the NEC regular season out right.

Zezza's career-high came on 6-8 shooting, including 2-3 from deep, and went along with three rebounds and three steals.

"Court has worked really hard this season, from summer through today," Haigh said. "You feel good for her to have games like that, hitting shots… it starts with the hustle, she ran the floor great today."

Zezza led Wynn (13), Reese (11) and Kovatch (10) in double figures. Kovatch was held to just three shots from the field in the second half as the Pioneers continually kept multiple defenders on the freshman.

The Pioneers out rebounded the Flash 37-24, led by Alissa Tarsi who had a double double of 10 points and 11 rebounds. Brielle Ward (Baltimore, Md./Western (Hampton U)) led the Flash with five rebounds. Saint Francis forced 26 turnovers, scoring 15 points off the miscues while Sacred Heart scored 26 points off 22 Flash turnovers.

Saint Francis now sits at 13-15 overall and 11-6 in the NEC while Sacred Heart is 17-11 and 15-2 in the NEC. The Flash wrap up the regular season on Monday at Robert Morris. Tip time is set for 7 p.m.