Flash Points:

• Jessica Kovatch (Phillipsburg, N.J./Phillipsburg) led the way with 24 points, topping 1000 for her career in the process
• Kovatch becomes the fastest player in SFU history to the mark and tied for 20^th fastest ever
• Courtney Zezza (Plum, Pa./Plum) had a double double of 15-10 as SFU out rebounded RMU 40-32
• SFU forced 27 turnovers from RMU led by 11 team steals

 
MOON, PA-  Jessica Kovatch (Phillipsburg, N.J./Phillipsburg) led three players in double figures and Saint Francis improved to 5-1 in NEC play for the second-straight year with a 70-55 win at Robert Morris on Monday afternoon.
 
The win snaps the Red Flash's seven-game losing streak in the Sewall Center and they did it behind a defense that held the Colonials to 18 first-half points and forced 27 turnovers. It also came in historic fashion with 2:31 left in the first half, Kovatch hit a pull-up three to hit 1,000 points in her career. She became the fastest player in SFU history to the mark and got her name in the NCAA record books, tying for 20^th fastest in women's basketball history.
 
The Flash jumped out on the Colonials on Monday, ripping off a 11-0 run to take a 13-2 lead. SFU forced nine first-quarter turnovers leading to eight points. Saint Francis kept their foot on the pedal in the second quarter as Kovatch began to heat up. Kovatch scored eight of SFU's first 10 points of the quarter as they stretched the lead out to 18 at 29-11. The sophomore's historic shot fueled a 10-0 run, their third double digit run of the half and extended the lead out to 26 at 42-16. The SFU defense employed a full-court trap that flustered and frustrated RMU all game long. Saint Francis outscored the Colonials 27-10 in the second quarter on the back of 61 percent shooting and 5-7 from beyond the arc. They led 42-18 at the break.
 
The Colonials began to get things rolling in the third quarter. After the Red Flash lead grew to the high-water mark of 28 (50-22), Robert Morris went on a 15-2 run to get as close as 15. Courtney Zezza (Plum, Pa./Plum) banked in a three from the top of the key to stop the rally and started the Flash's fourth big run of the game. SFU closed the quarter on a 9-0 run to take a 60-37 lead into the final frame.
 
In the final quarter, SFU would shoot just 2-12 from the field. However, they were a clutch 4-6 from the line and never let Robert Morris get any true momentum going in the final frame. Robert Morris outscored the Flash 18-9 in the fourth, but it was way too little way too late as Saint Francis earned the victory, their first in their last eight trips to the Sewall Center.
 
Kovatch led three in double figures as Katie Reese (Boonton Township, N.J./Mountain Lakes (Manhattan)) (17 points, two assists) and Courtney Zezza (Plum, Pa./Plum) (15 points, 10 rebounds, 3 blocks) joined the sophomore. Samiah Bethel (Jacksonville, Fla./Potter's House Christian Academy) also enjoyed a strong game, going a perfect 3-3 from the field for six points, adding five rebounds and a game high three steals. As a team, SFU out rebounded Robert Morris 40-32 and had an 8-5 edge on second-chance points.
 
The win moves SFU to 8-9 on the season and 5-1 in the NEC while Robert Morris drops to 8-9 overall and 3-3 in conference. The Red Flash host NEC leading and 6-0 Central Connecticut on Saturday. Tip time is at noon and can be seen on ESPN 3.