Red Flash to host Sacred Heart in NEC Tournament quarterfinal Monday night

Loretto, Pa. – Fourth-seeded Saint Francis women's basketball (11-18, 9-9 NEC) is set to host No. 5 seed Sacred Heart (12-17, 9-9 NEC) in the NEC Tournament quarterfinals on Monday, March 9 at 7 p.m. The game can be seen on NEC Front Row.

Scouting Sacred Heart
The Pioneers enter the NEC Tournament on a four game winning streak and are fresh off a 64-55 overtime win over LIU on Thursday. Over the past two weeks, Sacred Heart defeated Bryant twice and knocked off St. Francis Brooklyn. The Pioneers are averaging 58.8 ppg, while allowing 63.7 ppg. SHU ranks second in the league in blocked shots per game (4.7) and third in three-pointers made per game (6.9). Junior Adrianne Hagood leads the team in scoring with 15.5 ppg and returns to the lineup after missing three games in February, including the contest with the Red Flash on Feb. 10. Junior Abigail Kangudie paces the team in rebounding with 7.4 rpg, but hasn't played in the past two games for the Pioneers.

Series History
Sacred Heart leads the all-time series history 24-18. Saint Francis has won the past three meetings, including both contests this season. The Red Flash picked up a 60-58 victory on Jan. 18 in Loretto and a 48-39 win on Feb. 10 in Fairfield, Conn. SFU defeated the Pioneers 68-60 in the NEC Tournament semifinals last season at the Pitt Center.

SFU familiar with hosting NEC Tournament quarterfinals
Saint Francis finished in the top four in the NEC standings for the fifth straight season. As a result, the Red Flash are rewarded with a home quarterfinal playoff game. SFU was won four of its past five quarterfinals with the only loss coming to CCSU in the 2016-17 season.

NEC Tournament at a glance
In the other NEC Tournament games Monday night, No. 1 seed Robert Morris hosts No. 8 seed Wagner. No. 2 seed Mount St. Mary's plays host to No. 7 seed Wagner and No. 3 seed Fairleigh Dickinson hosts No. 6 seed Bryant. The highest two remaining seeds will host the semifinals on Thursday at 7 p.m.

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