Red Flash Battle Bearcats on Monday Night

11/26/2017 4:56:00 PM

Dan Griffin

LIVE VIDEO | LIVE STATS | SFU GAME NOTES

CINCINNATI, OH- For the second time in three seasons the Red Flash are in Cincinnati to take on the Bearcats on Monday night at 7 p.m. Due to construction of the Bearcats home court, 5/3 Arena, Monday's game will take place at Cincinnati State University.

ABOUT THE RED FLASH
Saint Francis has shaken off their 0-2 start to win their last two games, including a 103-71 triumph their last time out over Seton Hill on Education Day last Tuesday.

The Red Flash welcomed in nearly 600 area students last Tuesday and came out on an 18-0 run against the Griffins and never looked back. The Red Flash continued their balanced scoring, placing four players in double figures, led by Jessica Kovatch (Phillipsburg, N.J./Phillipsburg)'s 25.

SFU attacked the glass against SHU, ripping down 65 rebounds. That is the most they have had in a game since 1991 and just the sixth time topping the 60-rebound mark. As a result, the Red Flash lead the Northeast Conference with nearly 46 rebounds per game this season. The SFU defense also forced 21 turnovers, right in line with their average both this and last season. They'll look to turnover a Bearcat squad that averages and forces nearly 17 turnovers per game.

ABOUT THE BEARCATS
Cincinnati comes into the game at 4-2 on the season, having won their last contest, a 64-53 triumph over Eastern Kentucky on Saturday. Like the Red Flash, the Bearcats have strong scoring balance, with three players in double figures. Iimar'I Thomas leads three players in double figures at just over 13 points per game on strong 66 percent shooting. Thomas also leads the team with nearly seven rebounds per game.

SFU is familiar with guard Ana Owens, who went for 25-12 and 8 assists the last time these two teams met at the start of the 2015-16 season. Owens leads the Bearcats and is fifth in the American Athletic Conference at over four assists per game. Defensively, Shanice Johnson averages 3.3 steals per game, a mark that is top-25 in the NCAA.

The Bearcats were picked to finish 8^th in the American Athletic Conference and are 4-1 on their home court this season. However, this will be just the second game they are playing at Cincinnati State this season. They beat Slippery Rock, 85-52 in their home opener. All other games have been played at Saint Ursuline Academy.

SERIES HISTORY
Cincinnati has won each of the previous five meetings between the teams. The last time these two teams met was at the start of the 2015-16 season, an 93-85 victory for the Bearcats.

FOLLOW ALONG
Monday's game will stream live on Bearcats TV and UC will provide live stats. Links can be found at the top of the story and on the schedule page.

LOOKING AHEAD
Monday's game starts a busy three-game week for Saint Francis. The Red Flash are back in action on Thursday night when they travel to Duquesne. Tip time from the Steel City is set for 7 p.m.

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