"Split" Weekend Ahead for Women's Basketball

1/19/2018 8:52:00 AM

Dan Griffin

The Red Flash host Mount St. Mary's on Saturday and travel to Wagner on Monday
SFU split with both teams last season
Saint Francis is averaging over 15 steals per game in NEC play, nearly six more than any other club

LORETTO, PA- The Red Flash will have their first of two "split" weekends when they host Mount St. Mary's on Saturday at 2 and travel to Wagner to face the Seahawks on Monday night at 7.

ABOUT THE RED FLASH
Saint Francis is coming off a heartbreaking 63-62 loss at Robert Morris on a Megan Smith three at the buzzer. That said, the Red Flash are still at 4-1 in the Northeast Conference and have four of their next five games at home. While the Red Flash offensive numbers (84 ppg in NEC play), it's been the defense that sets the tone. Since the calendar turned to conference play, the Red Flash are turning teams over at an alarming rate. SFU is forcing nearly 25 turnovers a contest, thanks in part to an average of 15 steals per game, nearly six more than any other NEC school through five games. Four players are averaging over two steals per game, led by Ace Harrison (Baltimore, MD/Digital Harbor (Maryland)), who averages over three thefts a contest. The turnovers have led to an average of 22 points off those forced miscues. Nobody has benefited more than Jessica Kovatch (Phillipsburg, N.J./Phillipsburg), who has averaged over 32 points per game in NEC play, including a 42-point outburst against RMU last Saturday. Her 23.8 ppg average on the season is third in the NCAA and the junior has won each of the first three NEC Player of the Week Awards in conference play and 4 of the 10 this season.

ABOUT THE MOUNT
The Mount come into Saturday's match-up at 6-11 on the season and 3-3 in NEC play, but are coming off a winless weekend at the hands of the Brooklyn schools. The Mountaineers are a balanced squad with each of their five starters averaging at least eight points a contest with a pair in double figures this season. Juliette Lawless is stuffing the stat sheet this season as she is averaging over 10 points 5 rebounds and nearly three assists a game, all career and team highs. She's stepped up her game in the absence of Ashlee White, the guard has not played in a NEC game this season and had 20 points in the Mount's win over SFU in Loretto last season. The Red Flash will try to turn over a Mount squad that has averaged 18 turnovers a contest this season. Both teams will look to step up their rebounding game and hold opponents to one shot as both teams are getting out rebounded by an average of four rebounds per game.

ABOUT WAGNER
The Seahawks enter the weekend at 1-5 in NEC play and 3-14 overall on the season. It's been the offense that has struggled for Wagner, who averages just 53 points per game on the season, although that has taken a massive upswing to 65 points in NEC play. That's thanks in part to strong shooting, Wagner has connected on nearly 45 percent of their shots in NEC play, second in the conference. The Seahawks are a good rebounding team, sitting at +2 per game on the glass entering the weekend, however, they have struggled to take care of the ball, averaging 21 turnovers per NEC contest. Transfer Sierra Clark has been outstanding for Wagner in NEC play, averaging 21 points and 10 rebounds per game. The Seahawks have two of the top-10 scorers in NEC play with Clark (2nd) being joined by Morgan Lenahan, who is averaging 16 points per NEC game, good for eighth in the conference. Clark is also one to watch on the defensive block, leading the NEC in blocks with nearly three per conference game.

SERIES HISTORIES
The Red Flash own a 34-29 edge over the Mount, with the teams splitting last season. The Red Flash dropped a 66-58 decision last year at home to the Mount, but won 97-88 on the road. SFU leads the series with Wagner 44-22 with the Seahawks ending a four-game SFU win streak with a 87-71 win in Loretto last season.

LOOKING AHEAD
SFU returns home next weekend to welcome in CCSU and Bryant. The Blue Devils visit Loretto first with a 2 p.m. tip time set for Saturday.

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