LORETTO, Pa. – The Red Flash women's basketball team is poised to begin the 2020-21 schedule this week. This season will feature a seven-game non-conference slate and Northeast Conference games on back-to-back days. Find the full schedule HERE.

Head Coach Keila Whittington returns for her second season at the helm of SFU women's basketball following an 11-19 season in 2019-20. The Red Flash finished tied for fourth in the NEC with an even 9-9 conference record to earn the opportunity to host an NEC Tournament game inside DeGol Arena.

"Our focus [in March] and throughout the summer and this fall in preparation for our season is to take it one day at a time," said Whittington. "Things change, daily, for us so we're just excited to begin talking about playing."

SENIORS
Seniors Jenna Mastellone, Karson Swogger and Haley Thomas seek their second NEC Championship as the Red Flash most recently won the conference title in 2018 when the three were freshmen.

Mastellone, Swogger and Thomas look to lead by example as they were the top three scorers on the 2019-20 squad. Swogger led the way with 11.5 points per game while Thomas also finished the season averaging double figures at 10.5 ppg. In 2019-20, Mastellone, Swogger and Thomas combined for seven NEC Prime Performer mentions, a list that highlights players with impressive weekly stat lines. Swogger was named NEC Scholar Athlete of the Year and All-NEC Third Team following the 2019-20 season.

The trio combined for 40 double-figure scoring efforts last season, including four 20-point games, as they led the Red Flash in scoring in 20 games. Thomas recorded 10 or more rebounds in four contests on her way to three double-doubles. Swogger had a single-game season high seven assists.

RETURNERS
Saint Francis has six returning sophomores and juniors, all with playing experience. Juniors include guard Lili Benzel, center Jada Dapaa and forward Kayley Kovac while the sophomore class is made up of center/forward Katie Dettwiller, guard/forward Sam Miller and guard Halie Murphy.

Dapaa led Saint Francis in rebounds last season, totaling 191. She had at least 10 rebounds in five games to also lead the Red Flash as her 16 rebounds against Sacred Heart was a single-game high for the team in 2019-20.

Dettwiller led the Red Flash in blocks during her freshman season, totaling 36. She registered four games with three blocks each. Dettwiller concluded the season with 126 rebounds, ranking third on the team, and had three double-figure scoring efforts. She led the team in field goal percentage (.627, among players with a minimum of 50 field goals made), setting a new single-season program record.

NEWCOMERS
The Red Flash welcomes five new members in a strong freshmen class. Guards Diajha Allen and Kaitlyn Maxwell are in-state products while guard Christina Nichols and forwards Aaliyah Moore and Charli Reece are from outside of Pennsylvania.

Allen is an all-state selection and one of the Trib 10 girls basketball all-stars as she averaged 17.1 ppg during her final season of high school ball. Maxwell is the all-time leading scorer at Everett Area and in Bedford County as she concluded her high school career with 2,175 points. Nichols was named Region 7-AAA Tournament MVP and TSSAA District 14-AAA Player of the year in 2019. Moore averaged 15 points and nine rebounds per game as a sophomore as her team lost just one game that season. Reece competed in nationals after winning the state championship in Queensland and was named to the Queensland U20 women's state team.
 
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To learn more about Saint Francis University, visit francis.edu.