LORETTO, Pa. – The Saint Francis women's basketball team (8-4, 6-0 NEC) hosts Merrimack (0-4, 0-4 NEC) on Thursday and Friday. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Thursday and 4 p.m. on Friday. Both games will be available for free on NEC Front Row.
 
The Matchup: Saint Francis (8-4, 6-0 NEC) vs. Merrimack (0-4, 0-4 NEC)
Location: DeGol Arena (Loretto, Pa.)
Date and Time: Thursday at 6 p.m. and Friday at 4 p.m.
Watch: NEC Front Row (Game 1) (Game 2)
Live Stats:  sfuathletics.com
Game Notes: Saint Francis
Social Media: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
 
SCOUTING THE WARRIORS
Merrimack was selected to finish seventh in the Northeast Conference preseason coaches' poll under the Warriors' new head coach, Kelly Morrone. Merrimack finished 20-9 overall and 13-5 in NEC games in its first season in the conference in 2019-20.
 
This season, the Warriors have started 0-4, dropping series to Fairleigh Dickinson and Wagner. Last weekend, Merrimack fell to Wagner by a 43-56 margin on Friday and suffered a 68-74 overtime loss on Saturday. Junior Kate Mager led the game with 21 points while seniors Mayson Kimball and Alyssa Casey also scored in double figures with 11 and 10 points, respectively. Casey recorded her first double-double of the season with 10 rebounds.
 
The Warriors have two starters averaging double figures through the first four games of the season in Mager (11.5 ppg) and sophomore Diamond Christian (10.3 ppg). Senior Autumn Truesdale leads the team with 7.0 rebounds per game.
 
SERIES HISTORY
The Red Flash and Warriors met for the first time in program history during the 2019-20 season as Merrimack joined the Northeast Conference. Merrimack earned the 71-56 victory on Jan. 20, 2020 inside DeGol Arena. Jenna Mastellone led the Saint Francis scoring with 14 points while Jada Dapaa grabbed 10 rebounds.
 
LAST TIME OUT
Saint Francis earned a sweep at Bryant, defeating the Bulldogs by a 67-56 margin on Thursday, Jan. 14 and a 70-66 margin on Friday, Jan. 15. The Red Flash did not trail in Thursday's game as Karson Swogger led a trio of double-figure scorers with a season-high 22 points.
 
Friday's game went back-and-forth and saw SFU trailing by four going into the final quarter of play. The Red Flash began the fourth quarter on a 7-0 run and did not reliquish the lead. Swogger led all players with 20 points while Lili Benzel also scored in double figures with 18. Haley Thomas led all players with nine rebounds.
 
Follow Saint Francis Women's Basketball on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to get up-to-date information and a behind-the-scenes look at the Red Flash program.
 
To learn more about Saint Francis University, visit francis.edu.