FLASH POINTS

• Jessica Kovatch (Phillipsburg, N.J./Phillipsburg) scored 31 points to lead all scorers on a hyper-efficient 12-17 shooting
• Kovatch moved to 8^th place on the all-time scoring list in the win
• The Red Flash shot 75 percent in the second half and 55 percent for the game
   

FAIRFIELD, CT- The Red Flash shot 75 percent in the second half and placed three players in double figures in a 89-48 triumph at Sacred Heart in the conference opener for both teams.
 
Saint Francis got 31 points from Jessica Kovatch (Phillipsburg, N.J./Phillipsburg) on 12-17 shooting including 5-7 from three. The junior moved into eighth place on the all-time scoring list at Saint Francis passing Stacy Alexander.
 
The Red Flash held Sacred Heart to 24 percent shooting for the day and turned the Pioneers over 22 times, nine above their season average. SFU turned it into 24 points as they pulled away in the second half.
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FIRST QUARTER RECAP

• Both teams showed the effects of a week-long lay-off as the teams combined to start 1-15 from the field
• A Jessica Kovatch (Phillipsburg, N.J./Phillipsburg) jumper was the only bucket of the first five minutes, SFU led 2-1 at the media timeout
• A Ace Harrison (Baltimore, MD/Digital Harbor (Maryland)) lay-up got the Red Flash going out of the break and Kovatch began to heat up
• The junior hit a trio of threes and got three the hard way as part of a personal 11-2 run to give SFU a 18-7 lead
• Kovatch scored 14 points in the opening 10 minutes
• The Red Flash forced eight first quarter turnovers to lead by 11 after one quarter

 
SECOND QUARTER RECAP

• Kovatch kept pouring it on, hitting a tricky jumper to give SFU a 15-point lead
• Maya Wynn (Reisterstown, Md./McDonogh) hit a clutch transition three to stop a SHU run and take SFU into the media timeout with a 30-15 advantage
• The Red Flash defense continued to tighten, allowing just a deep Katherine Haines three
• SFU held SHU to just 18 percent shooting in the half and turned 14 turnovers into 9 points
• Saint Francis had seven players record an assist and dished out seven helpers on 13 first-half baskets
• SFU led 32-18 at the half

 
THIRD QUARTER RECAP

• The Red Flash came out firing with Kovatch and Harrison hitting jumpers
• Kovatch forced a Sacred Heart timeout with back-to-back threes to put SFU up 45-23
• SFU caught fire midway through the quarter, hitting on 9-of-10 shots
• Saint Francis shot 13-16 in the quarter, for 81 percent and outscored the Pioneers 31-14 in the quarter
• SFU led 63-32 after three

 
FOURTH QUARTER RECAP

• The Red Flash defense continued to shine, holding SHU to just five points over the first five minutes of the quarter
• Courtney Zezza (Plum, Pa./Plum) got hot in the quarter, hitting a pair of threes to get her into double figures
• A Caitlyn Kroll (Bridgeport, Ohio/Bridgeport) lay-up gave Saint Francis their largest lead at 44 points
• The Red Flash shot 75 percent in the second half en route to the win

 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• SFU held the Pioneers to just 24 percent shooting
• The Red Flash forced 22 turnovers, turning them into 24 points
• SHU won the rebounding battle with a slight 40-38 edge, the Red Flash did lead 13-11 on second chance points
• Saint Francis dished out 20 helpers on 37 baskets against just 11 turnovers
• Saint Francis won at Sacred Heart for the first time since the 2012-13 season

 
LOOKING AHEAD
The Red Flash turn right around and close the opening NEC weekend on Sunday at FDU, tip time from New Jersey is set for 2 p.m.