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LORETTO, Pa. – Saint Francis University women's basketball is set to host its Black History Month Game on Thursday, Feb. 1 at 7 p.m. against Central Connecticut. The game tips off five-of-six home matchups for Saint Francis in February.
 
Saint Francis Quick Hits
Destini Ward passed Kendall Carruthers for the team-lead with 15.9 points per game through the first eight conference games. Carruthers is averaging 15.3. Ward is second in the NEC, while Carruthers is fifth. Ward has scored at least 14 points in seven of the eight conference games played and she has 13 double-digit scoring games this season.
 
Carruthers continues to lead Saint Francis overall with a conference sixth-best 12.6 points per game. Kameryn Dorsey is eight during conference play with 2.9 assists per game and 10th with 2.5 overall this season. Marina Artero (5.2) and Julianna Gibson (5.0) pace the Red Flash in rebounds per game.
 
Last Time Out
Saint Francis wrapped up its road trip in Massachusetts with a 71-48 loss at Merrimack. Saint Francis took an early 10-5 lead over three minutes into the game before Merrimack ended the first quarter on an 11-3 run and led 16-13. In the second, the score was 24-21 Merrimack midway through the quarter before the Warriors took a 41-28 lead into halftime. Out of the half, the Warriors put together a 17-6 advantage in the third and led 58-36. Merrimack took a one-point advantage in the fourth quarter to clinch its 23-point victory.
 
Scouting Central Connecticut
The Blue Devils own a 4-16 overall and 2-5 conference record this season. Central Connecticut earned its two NEC victories over Stonehill and Saint Francis in back-to-back games. The Blue Devils are currently on a five-game losing streak. Samora Watson ranks second in the NEC with 16.6 points per game overall and is seventh with 14.9 per game during conference play. She is seventh in the conference with 5.7 rebounds per game. Belle Lanpher is second on the team with 12.9 points and leads Central Connecticut with 2.8 assists per game. Meghan Kenefick adds 8.1 points and 5.3 rebounds per game.
 
All-Time vs. Central Connecticut
Saint Francis owns a 37-16 all-time advantage over Central Connecticut, which includes a 21-6 margin at home. The Blue Devils won three of the last four meetings and defeated the Red Flash 61-37 this season on Jan. 13. Saint Francis won six straight games between 2018-22 prior to the recent stretch by Central Connecticut. 
 
Around the NEC
Sacred Heart (6-1) and Le Moyne (6-1) kept pace atop the NEC with victories 68-51 over FDU (4-3) and 80-62 over LIU (3-4), respectively. Merrimack (4-4) moved back to .500 with a 71-48 victory over Saint Francis (2-6). Wagner (2-4) handed Central Connecticut (2-5) its fifth loss in a row 49-45. On Thursday, Sacred Heart visits Stonehill, Wagner visits Le Moyne, FDU visits LIU and Central Connecticut visits Saint Francis.
 
Next
Saint Francis hosts LIU on Saturday, Feb. 3 for a 4 p.m. tip-off.