LORETTO, Pa. – Saint Francis University women's basketball has its first of four road games to close out the 2023-24 non-conference schedule on Friday, Dec. 15 at NJIT for a 6 p.m. tip-off.
 
Saint Francis Quick Hits
Two-time Northeast Conference Rookie of the Week Kendall Carruthers remains top-five in the conference with 12.8 points per game and is seventh with 1.7 three-point field goals per game. She saw a streak of five consecutive double-digit scoring games snap against Youngstown State but is still averaging 15.8 points per game in the last six. Destini Ward is ninth in the NEC with a team-high 1.7 steals per game and adds 8.6 points per game. She has four double-digit scoring performances in the last six games and is averaging 10.7 points per game in that span. Marina Artero (5.7) and Julianna Gibson (5.3) both rank top-10 in the NEC in rebounds per game. As a team, Saint Francis paces the conference with a 31.3 three-point field goal percentage.
 
Last Time Out
Saint Francis dropped its final home non-conference game to Youngstown State 69-32. The Penguins took an early 10-2 lead and finished the first quarter ahead 16-4. Saint Francis cut the deficit to single digits, 18-9, with 8:19 remaining in the half before Youngstown State opened a 36-17 lead at the half. In the third, The Penguins outscored the Red Flash 18-4 and increased its lead throughout the fourth quarter before clinching its 37-point win.
 
Scouting NJIT
The Highlanders enter Friday's game with a 6-5 overall record and are 4-1 at home. NJIT started the season 4-1 before a recent 2-4 stretch. The Highlanders had their largest victory of the season 80-36 over Wagner on Nov. 18. NJIT is led by Alejandra Zuniga's 14.5 points and 2.3 assists per game and she adds 2.9 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game. Trinity Williams paces the team with 6.5 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game, while she also ranks second with 9.9 points per game.
 
All-Time vs. NJIT
Saint Francis and NJIT will meet for the first time in program history on Friday. The Highlanders are 3-1 against NEC teams this season, while NJIT is Saint Francis' first of two America East opponents – the second is UMBC on Dec. 29.
 
Around the NEC
Sacred Heart remains atop the NEC standings with a 5-6 record, followed by Merrimack's 3-8 mark. Wagner and Fairleigh Dickinson each have two wins, while four other programs have one win. Stonehill remains the last team without a victory at 0-10.
 
Next
Saint Francis has a quick turnaround to face Penn State on Sunday, Dec. 17 at 1 p.m.