Jade Campbell and Natalie Johnson, members of the Saint Francis women's basketball team, have been named Northeast Conference (NEC) Prime Performers for December 30-January 5. It is the second time this season Campbell was recognized and the first time for Johnson.

Both players were key to the Red Flash's 79-63 win against CCSU on Thursday. Johnson notched her first career 20-point game and keyed an 18-5 run with seven points, including giving Saint Francis the lead for good on a layup with 8:45 left in the first quarter in the win against the Blue Devils. Johnson was near perfect in New Britain, shooting 8-for-9 from the floor and 4 of 5 from long range. Johnson tallied a career-high 19 points and added 11 rebounds for her second double-double in the victory.

Johnson registered 13 points, and Campbell scored eight points against Stonehill on Saturday to wrap up the first NEC weekend with a 1-1 record.

Johnson finished the week averaging 16.5 points thanks to shooting 70.0 percent from the floor (14-for-20) and 71.4 percent from behind the arc (5-for-7) in the two games, along with adding five assists, four steals, and two blocks. She became the first player to register 20 points in the first NEC game of the year since Karson Swogger recorded 25 points against Bryant on January 2, 2020. In addition, Johnson was the first Red Flash player to have 20 points in her league debut since Jess Kovatch posted 35 points against Wagner on January 2, 2016. The junior has seven 10+ point games this season, including six on the road. She is averaging 14.6 points per game in the three wins. 

Campbell averaged 13.5 points and 7.0 rebounds per game in the two games. The junior shot 50.0 percent from the floor (11-for-22) and 83.3 percent from the free throw line (5-for-6) in the two games. She added eight points and three boards on Saturday at Stonehill. Campbell, who was playing in her first NEC action since February 25, 2023, at Wagner, registered her fifth 10+ rebound performance of her career and her third against a league opponent. The 11 boards tied the most caroms in an NEC game for the junior after grabbing 11 rebounds against Merrimack on February 4, 2023. All three of her double-figure rebound games in the circuit have come against teams from New  England.

Campbell was the last player to be named an NEC Prime Performer for December 2-8 after a 17-point, 19-rebound effort against Delaware State on December 5. Freshman Airah Lavy was selected for November 18-24 thanks to a career-high 19 points and the game-winning 3-pointer against Robert Morris on November 20. Sophomore Yanessa Boyd followed with a 20-point effort at Duquesne on December 1 to earn Prime Performer for November 25-December 1.

For the first time in 32 days, Saint Francis returns to DeGol Arena to host FDU for its NEC home opener on Thursday. Game time is 7 p.m.