Flash Points:

• Jessica Kovatch (Phillipsburg, N.J./Phillipsburg) led all scorers with 21 points
• SFU held the Blackbirds to just 29 percent shooting
• Courtney Zezza (Plum, Pa./Plum) led the defense with five blocks

 
LORETTO, PA- Jessica Kovatch (Phillipsburg, N.J./Phillipsburg) scored 13 of her 21 in the second half and the Red Flash defense helped Saint Francis pull away for a 66-52 victory over LIU Brooklyn on Saturday at DeGol Arena.
 
The Red Flash defense held LIU Brooklyn to just 24 second-half points and just 29 percent shooting from the field. The defensive effort helped SFU take control of a game that saw six ties and 11 lead changes through the first three quarters. Courtney Zezza (Plum, Pa./Plum) led the defense with five of the team's seven blocked shots while Ace Harrison (Baltimore, MD/Digital Harbor (Maryland)) grabbed a team-high eight rebounds. It was a group effort on the glass on Saturday as five different players had at least five rebounds.
 
It was a very helter-skelter game in the early going as neither team could establish much of a rhythm. Ace Harrison (Baltimore, MD/Digital Harbor (Maryland)) scored five of her 10 points in the early stages of the quarter but battled foul trouble all game long. LIU took advantage as Aja Boyd scored seven of her 15 points in the quarter and the Flash went cold from the field, shooting just 21 percent in the first. In spite of the freshman's hot hand and the Flash going cold, LIU led just 15-12 after the first quarter.
 
SFU snapped their cold streak quickly in the second as Zezza and Kovatch each dialed in a three to kick off a 6-0 run to start the quarter and regain the lead. The teams would trade baskets before LIU got on a little run midway through the quarter. SFU was held to just three points over a six-minute stretch. But the Blackbirds failed to truly capitalize on the opportunity, scoring just eight points of their own over that span and built a five-point lead. A Katie Reese (Boonton Township, N.J./Mountain Lakes (Manhattan)) three snapped the drought and Kovatch drove for a lay-up late as SFU cut the LIU lead to one at 30-29 at the half.
 
Kovatch got going in the third quarter, starting the second half on a personal 7-0 run to give SFU a 36-30 lead. LIU responded with a 7-0 run of their own as the teams continued the back-and-forth style from the opening half. Midway through the quarter, the Red Flash put the clamps on LIU's offense, holding the Blackbirds to just one basket over a four-minute stretch. Unlike, LIU, SFU took advantage of the drought. Halee Adams (Hollidaysburg, Pa./Bishop Guilfoyle (Sienna)) hit a bucket that was followed by a Taylor Allison (State College, Pa./State College) three pointer. Kovatch added two more baskets as the lead grew to eight at 47-39 late in the quarter. LIU cut the lead to four before Kovatch found Zezza on the baseline for a buzzer beater as SFU took a 49-43 lead into the final quarter.
 
LIU would get no closer than five in the final quarter as the SFU defense continued to stymie the Blackbirds. Again, the Red Flash held LIU without a field goal for a four-minute period as they extended the lead out to double figures. An Ace Harrison (Baltimore, MD/Digital Harbor (Maryland)) three was followed by buckets by Kovatch and Zezza. A Katie Reese (Boonton Township, N.J./Mountain Lakes (Manhattan)) three with just under two minutes was a dagger and the Flash picked up their second NEC win of the season.
 
Shanovia Dove led LIU with 17 but only five came in the second half. Aja Boyd had 15 points and 12 rebounds, but was held to just six points and two rebounds in the second half. Harrison was the only player other than Kovatch to reach double figures, closing the game with 10 points and the team high eight rebounds.
 
LIU won the battle down low, owning a 24-16 edge in the point and a 19-11 edge in second-chance points. Saint Francis forced 21 turnovers, including 11 steals, turning them into 13 points. Kovatch and Halee Adams (Hollidaysburg, Pa./Bishop Guilfoyle (Sienna)) each had three steals to lead the team.
 
The win moves Saint Francis to 5-9 overall and more importantly, 2-1 in conference. LIU falls to 2-12 overall and 1-2 in NEC play. SFU is back in action on Monday night when they welcome in the Terriers of Saint Francis-Brooklyn. Tip time from DeGol Arena is set for 7 p.m.