WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
>> A complete team effort was highlighted by 12 of the 13 players registering points to help Saint Francis defeat Le Moyne 73-41 in Northeast Conference (NEC) women's basketball action on Saturday.
>> Airah Lavy paced the Red Flash with 14 points, while Marissa Shelton had 12 points. Marina Artero tied her career-high with 11 rebounds.

TURNING POINT OF THE GAME
Saint Francis jumped out to a 9-0 lead thanks to baskets from four different players. Artero gave Saint Francis the lead it would not relinquish on a layup 25 seconds into the game before Shelton drained a 3-pointer at 8:59. Julianna Gibson and Yanessa Boyd capped the spurt with layups for a nine-point lead with 7:32 left in the opening quarter. The lead for the Loretto program would not go under seven points the rest of the afternoon. 

FLASH QUOTES
"We talked to our team on Thursday night about the effort they've been putting in and how we were building off the tough games we played in the non-conference. Now that we've started conference play, how every game, every day, we need to grow. It's great to see like another start to finish. We are proud of the entire team because everybody who came in contributed in some way, shape or form." – head coach Keila Whittington on the win

"We don't take anybody for granted. Every team in the conference is hungry. They all want to win. They're all going to fight. We'll continue preparing our team to stay focused and prepare how we want to. And we have classes starting on Monday, so it's an extra thing that's coming into play, the most important reason why they're here. Focus becomes even more important." – Whittington on moving on to the next game

"We talk about sharing the basketball, which means they're unselfish. Ineivi and Marina can score whenever they want to because they touch the ball so much, but they're so unselfish and want the best shot at the right time. They take their moments when they can. It's great to see Ineivi and Marina do their part." – Whittington on the play of Marina Artero and Ineivi Plata

"I like to do whatever it takes to help the team, if it's a rebound, assist, or whatever it is. I always try to find the best opportunity and the best shot." – Marina Artero on helping the team win

"Before every game, I just tell myself, it's the next shot mentality. I always have to be thinking next shot. If I make the one before, I just have to have a blank mind. And if I miss it, blank mind. That's kind of how I go about it." – Airah Lavy on being a 3-point shooting threat

"I definitely see the progression. And not only my game but the team's game. I feel like we all have gotten progressively better. We're all sharing the ball, scoring, rebounding, and doing everything we need to do to win. It shows out there on the floor." – Lavy on the team

"We love band, cheer, dance. They love us. They bring extra energy to us. We are grateful to have that support." – Whittington on the support of band, cheer and dance

FLASH MOMENTS
A 7-2 run extended the advantage to 18-4 with 3:30 left in the first quarter. Alary Bell had the first two baskets before Harris Robinson and Gibson kissed the glass in the surge.

With the Red Flash holding a 22-15 lead, the squad went on a 17-6 run to take a 39-21 advantage. Six different players scored in this span, with Bell registering two baskets. The Loretto program went into the locker room with a 41-23 advantage.

Sparked by seven points by Shelton and a pair of baskets from downtown from Lavy, Saint Francis outscored the Dolphins 21-8 in the third quarter. The two teams played evenly in the fourth quarter, but Saint Francis came away with the 73-41 win.

FLASH NUGGETS
Shelton, who had a career-high 15 points against FDU on Thursday, notched back-to-back games in double figures for the second time in her career, and both times occurred in DeGol Arena. The junior has registered double figures six times in her career, with four coming in Loretto.

Lavy registered her fifth 10+ point game and second at DeGol Arena. In games Lavy has registered double figures, she is shooting 23-for-39 from the floor (58.9 percent) and 21-for-38 (55.2 percent) from behind the arc. She has registered back-to-back 10+ point games twice this season.

Artero matched her career high in boards after grabbing 11 caroms for the second time. She also had 11 at Stonehill on January 24, 2023. The sophomore had had five rebounds six times this season and 26 times in her career. Artero stuffed the stat sheet, adding four points, two assists, and two steals. 

Bell and Robinson finished with eight points, while Bell hauled in a career-high seven rebounds. 

Boyd and Plata were also stat stuffers. Boyd had four points, three assists, three steals, two rebounds, and a block, while Plata registered two points, five assists, four rebounds, and two steals. Boyd's steals were a career-best, while Plata has dished out at least three helpers nine times this season and five assists three times.

With the win, Saint Francis improved to 2-2 in NEC play for the ninth time in program history and the first time since 2022-23.

The squad scored 70 points in a game for the third time this season and the second time in league play. 

NEXT UP FOR FLASH
The Red Flash continues its four-game homestand against LIU one week from Saturday on January 18. Game time is 4 p.m.