FLASH POINTS

• This is the second meeting between Toledo and Ohio in the WNIT
• The Red Flash open the season at #24 in the Mid-Major top-25
• Jessica Kovatch was named to the Lieberman watch list for the second-straight season

 
 WATCH (ESPN 3) | LIVE STATS

LORETTO, PA-Saint Francis women's basketball tips off their 2017-18 season on Friday night as they travel to Toledo to face the Rockets in the opening round of the pre-season WNIT.
 
Tip time is set for 7 p.m. from Savage Arena and can been seen on ESPN 3.
 
ABOUT THE RED FLASH
Saint Francis has received some pre-season accolades as they were picked to win the Northeast Conference by the NEC coaches and opened the season with a #24 ranking in the College Insider Mid-Major top-25.
 
This is the third venture into the pre-season WNIT for the Red Flash as they join the 2010-11 team and the 1998-99 teams. The 2010-11 team lost at Toledo 71-66 and at James Madison before defeating Iona while the 1998-99 team lost at Rutgers. Like the 2010-11 team, the 2017-18 squad will get a three-game guarantee in the WNIT.
 
SIX PACK
The Red Flash placed six players in double figures in a 94-60 triumph over Pitt-Johnstown in an exhibition game on November 2^nd. Jessica Kovatch led the charge with 19 points while Haley Thomas added 11 points and a team-high 7 rebounds in her SFU debut.
 
UNDER PRESSURE
The Red Flash closed last year top-20 in the nation in turnovers forced and steals and top-10 in the nation in steals and will look to carry that pressure defense over to this season. SFU forced an average of 20.69 turnovers per game last year, good for 14^th in the NCAA and ranked 7^th in steals per game at 11.7. The Red Flash turned the Mountains Cats over 36 times in the exhibition on the back of 25 steals. SFU turned that into 48 points off turnovers and 44 points on the fast break.
 
TWICE AS NICE
Junior guard Jessica Kovatch has been named to the Nancy Lieberman Award watch list for the second-straight season, an award given to the best point guard in the NCAA. Kovatch is coming off of back-to-back seasons where she averaged 21 points per game. The now junior did see an increase in assists and rebounds from her freshman campaign.

BLOCK PARTY
Saint Francis picked up where they left off last season, swatting away eight shots in the exhibition win over UPJ. The Red Flash finished second in the nation in blocked shots per game at nearly 6.5 per contest and fifth in total blocks for the season. Courtney Zezza led the team last year, breaking the single-season record for blocks at SFU as she totaled 110 last season and 3.5 per game, both good for fifth in the nation.
 
ABOUT THE ROCKETS
The Rockets also handled a PSAC school in their exhibition, downing Lock Haven 78-47. Toledo is led by pre-season All-MAC selection Mikaela Boyd, who led the team in points and rebounds last season and was second on the team in assists. The Bald Eagles had no answer for Kaayla McIntyre who had 18 points on 7-9 shooting in the exhibition. The 6-2 center will be a strong post presence for the Rockets on Friday night.
 
Toledo was picked to finish second in the Mid-American Conference's west division, picking up a first-place vote and slotting behind overall MAC conference selection Central Michigan. The Rockets are coming off a 25-win season and a MAC tournament championship. They will be the first of five-potential tournament teams the Red Flash will face this season. They check in at #29 in the Mid-Major Top-25.
 
FOLLOW ALONG
Friday night's game can be seen on ESPN3 and the Watch ESPN app. Toledo will also provide live stats for the contest. The links can be found at the top of the story and on the women's basketball schedule page.
 
LOOKING AHEAD
The next game for the Red Flash entirely depends on Friday's result. Should the Red Flash win, they will take on the winner of Louisville and Southeast Missouri on Tuesday. If the Red Flash lose, they will drop in to the consolation bracket of the WNIT and will play two games next weekend at a site to be determined.