Loretto, Pa. - The Saint Francis women's basketball team (3-9) opens NEC play on Saturday, Jan. 5 at 4 p.m. vs. Fairleigh Dickinson (3-8) followed by a clash with Mount St. Mary's (6-5) on Monday, Jan. 7 at 7 p.m. Both games can be viewed on NEC Front Row.

Scouting Fairleigh Dickinson

The Knights enter Saturday's game having lost six straight games to Division I opponents. FDU picked up a win over Division II Georgian Court to close non-conference play on Dec. 29. The Knights have struggled on the road so far this season with an 0-6 record and have lost its last 11 straight road contests dating back to last season. Senior guard Peniel M'Bikata leads the team in scoring with 11.5 points per game, while Sophomore forward Madison Stanley spearheads the rebounding efforts with 4.8 boards per contest. Senior guard Natalie Zamora paces the Knights with 2.5 apg and leads the NEC with 2.5 steals per game.

Series History

Saint Francis has controlled the series recently with five straight wins over Fairleigh Dickinson, including an 89-70 win in the most recent meeting in the NEC Tournament quarterfinals on March 7, 2018. The Red Flash lead the all-time series 44-22 with a 25-9 record inside DeGol Arena.

Scouting Mount St. Mary's

The Mountaineers have won five of its last seven games this season, including an 89-77 win over Big South preseason favorite Radford on Jan. 2. Mount St. Mary's is 3-4 on the road this season and the only common opponent between the Mountaineers and the Red Flash is Duquesne. Mount St. Mary's fell to the Dukes, 73-64, on Nov. 12, while SFU dropped a 93-73 decision to Duquesne on Nov. 25. Senior guard Juliette Lawless, who was named NEC Player of the Week in early December, has been a scoring machine for the Mountaineers, averaging 18.0 points per game. Lawless leads the NEC with a 51.6% field goal percentage and is third in the league in assists with 3.9 dimes per game. Sophomore center Rebecca Lee has a strong rebounding presence four Mount St. Mary's with 8.1 boards per contest.

Series History

Saint Francis and Mount St. Mary's has always been a competitive NEC rivalry. The Red Flash have won the last two meetings, including a 79-69 win over the Mountaineers in the most recent meeting on March 2, 2018. SFU has won six of the last seven contests and leads the all-time series 33-28 with a 20-8 record inside DeGol Arena.

Saint Francis Notes

• Saint Francis finished non-conference play with a narrow 78-75 overtime road defeat to ACC rival Pittsburgh on Dec. 21

• Jess Kovatch (Phillipsburg, N.J./Phillipsburg) was named NEC Player of the Week on Dec. 24 for her impressive performances in a win over Morehead State and against Pittsburgh. Kovatch, who shot 43.8 percent from the floor, averaged 27.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.5 steals per outing

• The Red Flash rank third in the NCAA in three-point field goals made per game (11.6)

• Kovatch ranks fourth in the country this season with 3.9 treys per game. Her 396 career made three-pointers ranks fourth all-time in the NCAA

• SFU is eager to return to the friendly confines of DeGol Arena as the Red Flash are 2-2 at home this season. The team played five of its seven games in December away from DeGol Arena

• Saint Francis has won three straight NEC openers, including an 82-79 win over FDU in the 2016-17 conference opener