Flash Points:

• The Flash improved to 9-2 in the NEC
• SFU went on a 24-0 run to start the first half
• Saint Francis put three players in double figures led by Maya Wynn (Reisterstown, Md./McDonogh)'s 20
• The 30-points allowed is the fewest for SFU since joining the NEC
• 30 points is the fewest allowed since March 31, 1982 in a 78-29 win over Chatham

 
BROOKLYN, NY- The Saint Francis Red Flash used a big first half run and suffocating defense to pick up their ninth NEC win on Saturday 74-30 over the LIU Blackbirds at the Steinberg Wellness Center.
 
The 43-point victory is the largest in SFU's history against the Blackbirds in their 64 match-ups. It is also the largest margin of victory for the Red Flash in any game since defeating St. Francis Brooklyn 104-59 on January 10, 2004. The 30-points allowed are the fewest in NEC history for the Red Flash, besting the 34 points allowed in a 52-34 win over UMBC on December 5, 1998. The 30 points are also the fewest allowed in any game since 1982 when SFU defeated Chatham 78-29 on March 13th of that year. 
 
The Red Flash and Blackbirds started slow on Saturday, with SFU missing their first four shots of the game. They heated up in a hurry, closing the quarter on an 11-3 run to break open a tie game. Threes by Wynn, Reese and Adams helped to fuel the first quarter run.
 
Saint Francis kicked into overdrive in the second quarter as Jessica Kovatch (Phillipsburg, N.J./Phillipsburg) scored five-straight points. The Red Flash defense then went to work. They held LIU scoreless on fifteen-straight possessions (0-9 shooting, six turnovers) over an eight-minute stretch. During that stretch, SFU went on a 24-0 run that included four threes and six different players scoring.  All told, the Flash outscored LIU 25-2 in the second quarter and led 43-12 at the half.
 
Katie Reese (Boonton Township, N.J./Mountain Lakes (Manhattan)) got going in the third quarter to help fuel the SFU offense. The senior scored the Red Flash's first eight points of the quarter including a pair of threes. Saint Francis would continue to give the LIU offense fits, holding them to just 18 percent shooting on the night. Another Reese bucket late stretched the lead to over 40 as the guard scored 10 of her points in the third, helping SFU lead 59-20 after three. Reese would finish with 19 points on the night. Saint Francis would lead by as 45 in the fourth thanks to another pair of threes from Wynn who led all scorers with 20.
 
SFU dominated all the categories on Saturday. They forced 21 turnovers and turned them into 29 points, well above their season average of 19 points off turnovers. The turnovers also let the Flash get out into transition, posting a 12-2 edge on the fast break and 26-14 in the paint. The Red Flash out rebounded LIU 49-44, led by Courtney Zezza (Plum, Pa./Plum)'s 12 and Samiah Bethel (Jacksonville, Fla./Potter's House Christian Academy)'s nine. Despite losing the offensive board battle 15-14, SFU had a 16-3 edge on second-chance points.
 
The victory improves Saint Francis to 12-10 overall and 9-2 in the Northeast Conference. LIU Brooklyn drops to 4-18 and 3-8 in the NEC. Saint Francis will go for NEC win number 10 on Monday night when they battle St. Francis Brooklyn. Tip time from the Pope Center is set for 7 p.m.