Seattle, Wash. – Senior guard Jess Kovatch (Phillipsburg, N.J./Phillipsburg) became the all-time leading scorer in Saint Francis history as a furious fourth quarter Red Flash rally fell just short in a 79-77 defeat to Montana in the Husky Classic at Alaska Airlines Arena. Kovatch finished with a team-high 20 points as she now has 2,345 points in her storied four-year career.

Kovatch on breaking the Saint Francis scoring record
"It's an honor," Kovatch said. "Coming in as a freshman, going all the way back you don't really think about that. Throughout my four years, I have to thank my teammates for giving me the ball and my past coach for creating plays and making sure I was open and setting me up for success. I have to thank my current team for helping me achieve my goal tonight."

First Quarter Recap

• Montana (5-4) jumped out to a 7-3 lead as the Grizzlies controlled the tempo early on
• Aunesha Williams (Miami, FL/McEachern (Morgan State)) scored the first eight points of the game for Saint Francis (2-8) on two three-pointers and a jumper with 5:58 left to put SFU ahead 8-7
• The Grizzlies used a 15-0 run to grab a 22-8 advantage with 1:44 to play in the period
• Haley Thomas (Hooversville, PA/Bishop McCort) made a layup with five seconds to go as the Red Flash trailed 24-13 at the end of the first frame

Second Quarter Recap

• Courtney Zezza (Plum, PA/Plum), who finished with 15 points and six rebounds, caught fire with seven points over a three-minute stretch as her trifecta cut Montana's lead to 31-22 with 5:05 remaining in the period
• A Kovatch three-pointer followed by two Karson Swogger (Bellwood, PA/Bellwood-Antis) free throws pulled Saint Francis within four as the Red Flash trailed 31-27
• Montana responded with an 8-3 run to close the half as the Grizzlies led 39-30 at intermission

Third Quarter Recap

• Zezza knocked down a three-pointer to open the scoring before a 10-0 Montana run put the Grizzlies ahead 49-33
• Kovatch's jumper with 4:17 to go in the period narrowed the margin to 51-39
• Kovatch connected on back-to-back three-pointers for the Red Flash as SFU trailed 61-46
• Two Zezza free throws with 25 seconds to go cut the Montana lead to 63-48 at the end of the third frame

Fourth Quarter Recap

• Montana had its largest lead of the game at 72-52 with just under seven minutes to go
• A Kovatch trey sparked a 19-2 Saint Francis run over the next five minutes as two Haley Thomas (Hooversville, PA/Bishop McCort) free throws capped off the surge and trimmed the Grizzlies' lead to 74-71 with two minutes remaining
• Phee Allen (Newport News, VA/Woodside) converted on a jumper with 49 seconds left and the Red Flash forced a turnover before Jenna Mastellone (New York City, N.Y./Archbishop Molloy) drilled a triple to narrow the margin to 78-77 with 32 seconds to go
• Montana made 1-of-2 free throws with 19 seconds left to give the Grizzlies a 79-77 lead
• Kovatch's three-point attempt at the buzzer was off the mark as the Red Flash rally came up just short

Notes

• Saint Francis shot 26-of-65 from the field, including 14-of-33 from behind the three-point arc and 11-of-19 from the free throw line
• The Red Flash outscored the Grizzlies 29-18 in the fourth quarter
• Montana won the battle on the boards with a 42-30 rebounding advantage
• Sam Sabino (Rumson, N.J./Rumson Fair Haven (New Hampshire)) forced three steals as Saint Francis had 11 takeaways compared to the Grizzlies' eight steals
• The Red Flash defense turned up the pressure late and had 22 points off 20 Montana turnovers

Looking Ahead
Saint Francis returns to the hardwood when the Red Flash host Morehead State on Wednesday, December 19. Tip time at DeGol Arena is set for 6 p.m.