Youngstown, Ohio – Saint Francis (2-5) looks to return to the win column when the Red Flash travel to play at Youngstown State on Saturday. Tip time is set for 4:45 p.m. and the game can be viewed on ESPN3.
Scouting Youngstown State
Youngstown State is going for its 600th program win on Saturday. The Penguins are 6-2 and won its last two games over Canisius this past Saturday (62-36) and over previously unbeaten Akron (72-61) on November 28. YSU had a 69-59 overtime win over preseason NEC favorite Robert Morris to open the season. Alison Smolinski leads the Penguins in scoring with 13.9 points per game, while Sarah Cash (10.8 ppg) and McKenah Peters (10.4 ppg) also pace YSU's offense. Chelsea Olson leads the team in rebounding and assists with 8.0 boards and 4.4. dimes per contest.
Three-point shooting clinics
As showcased in Wednesday's three-point fest against Florida Gulf Coast, Saint Francis has been putting on a show from behind the three-point arc. The Red Flash scored 12 three-pointers against FGCU and rank third in the country with 11.4 treys per game.
Kovatch closing in on scoring record
Senior guard Jess Kovatch (Phillipsburg, N.J./Phillipsburg) continues to chase down several SFU all-time records and has already cemented herself as one of the best shooters in school history. The Phillipsburg, N.J. native sits in second place all-time in scoring at Saint Francis with 2,282 career points. She needs only 57 points to break Jess Zinobile's career scoring record. Kovatch ranks third all-time at SFU with 776 career field goals made. She needs only 56 field goals to pass Beth Swink and Zinobile for first place all-time. Kovatch already holds the school three-point shooting record with 373 career treys.
Allen starting to learn SFU offense
Freshman guard Phee Allen (Newport News, VA/Woodside) had an impressive performance against Florida Gulf Coast and has gained a solid grasp of SFU's new systematic style of play under Interim Head Coach Susan Robinson Fruchtl. Allen scored six points on 2-of-3 shooting from behind the arc in only 15 minutes of playing time. She also helped facilitate the offense as point guard and had two assists.
Thomas has season-best performance
Sophomore guard Haley Thomas (Hooversville, PA/Bishop McCort) is coming off a season-high ten points and seven rebounds against FGCU. She shot 3-of-5 from the floor, including 1-of-2 from behind the arc and 3-of-3 from the free throw line. Thomas had a key old fashioned three-point play at the end of the third quarter that provided a spark to the Red Flash offense.
Facing the Penguins
Saint Francis is 3-2 all-time against Youngstown State with the Red Flash winning the most recent meeting last season, 79-65, on December 9, 2017.
