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LORETTO, Pa. – Saint Francis University women's basketball welcomes reigning Northeast Conference Champion Sacred Heart on Monday, Jan. 8 for a 7 p.m. tip-off.
 
Saint Francis Quick Hits
Destini Ward (19) and Julianna Gibson (15) are both coming off a career-high in points during Saturday's conference opener against Wagner. Ward ranks second among active Red Flash players with 9.6 points per game and is tied with Kendall Carruthers for the team lead with seven double-digit scoring efforts this season. Carruthers continues to pace the Red Flash with 11.1 points per game. Gibson leads the team with 4.9 rebounds per game, followed by Marina Artero's 4.7 and Ward's 4.5. Kameryn Dorsey paces Saint Francis with 2.4 assists per game and has drawn into the starting lineup the last two games.
 
Last Time Out
Saint Francis earned a 64-54 victory over Wagner in the 2023-24 conference opener. Both teams played an even first quarter that ended in a 16-16 tie before Saint Francis opened a narrow three-point, 32-29, by halftime. In the third quarter, Wagner led 40-38 with 3:57 remaining before Saint Francis ended the quarter on an 11-2 run and led 49-42. In the fourth quarter, Saint Francis eventually took a double-digit, 55-44, lead with 7:02 remaining. The Red Flash led by at least seven points the remainder of the game before earning its victory.
 
Scouting Sacred Heart
The Pioneers hold a conference-best 7-8 overall record and are 1-0 in conference play after a 65-51 victory over Merrimack. Sacred Heart, the reigning NEC Champion, was selected the unanimous favorite in this season's preseason poll. Reigning NEC Player of the Year Ny'Ceara Pryor ranks second in the conference with 17.1 points and leads with 4.1 assists and 2.9 steals per game. She also leads the team with a conference fifth-best 6.3 rebounds per game. Sajada Bonner is second on the team and 10th in the NEC with 10.2 points per game. Sacred Heart leads the NEC with 59.6 points per game and allows the lowest points against per game at 61.3.
 
All-Time vs. Sacred Heart
Sacred Heart owns a 28-21 all-time advantage over Saint Francis since the first meeting in 2000. The Pioneers won the last two games in the series, played last season, that snapped a two-game streak for Saint Francis in the 2021-22 season. The Red Flash hold a 14-11 advantage over the Pioneers at home.
 
Around the NEC
NEC games started on Jan. 6 with a 54-52 LIU victory over Stonehill, 65-51 Sacred Heart victory over Merrimack, 65-52 Le Moyne win over FDU and 64-54 Saint Francis victory over Wagner. Le Moyne's win was its first conference victory as a member of the NEC. Conference play continues Jan. 8 with Central Connecticut hosting Stonehill, Wagner hosting LIU, Saint Francis hosting Sacred Heart and FDU hosting Merrimack.
 
Next
Saint Francis has its first road conference game of the season on Saturday, Jan. 13 at Central Connecticut for a 1 p.m. tip-off.