WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
>> The new-look Saint Francis women's basketball team made its 2025-26 DeGol Arena debut on Thursday. Aleah James paced the Red Flash with a career-high 20 points, but Saint Francis could not overcome a Robert Morris run in the first half of a 71-61 loss in non-conference action on Thursday.
>> Shelby Ricks (14 points) and Sonia Sato (10 points) also found double figures for the Red Flash. 

TURNING POINT OF THE GAME
With Saint Francis holding a 15-14 edge, Robert Morris closed out the first quarter on a 10-0 run to take the lead it would not relinquish.

Despite trailing by 19 points in the third quarter, the Red Flash closed the gap to 60-55 with 5:08 left in the game, but could get no closer.

FLASH QUOTES
"I am proud of our effort, proud of our energy, and proud of the way we competed. I know there is a lot more in store for us. We are always going to keep trying, and I certainly wasn't shocked when we cut the deficit. Now we have to work on getting over that hump. " - head coach Chynna Bozeman on the game

"We have to figure out which pieces go to the puzzle in each game to be able to show our best. We didn't go without a fight; we battled them the whole time." - Shelby Ricks on the game 

"Truthfully, I wasn't really feeling any emotions. I was just going. I was hearing the crowd, it was electric, and I really wanted to show out in front of the home crowd and have a good debut here." - Aleah James on her 8-0 run in the fourth quarter

FLASH MOMENTS 
The Colonials started the game by scoring 12 of the first 18 points before Saint Francis went on a 7-0 run to take a 13-12 margin with 5:19 left in the first quarter. Ricks had five unanswered points before Makyiah Ward scored in the lane to give the Loretto program its first advantage. 

Trailing 47-28 with 9:14 left in the third quarter, the Red Flash mounted a comeback with a 27-13 spurt to cut the margin to 60-55 with 5:08 left in the game. James sparked the run with 14 points, including her own 8-0 run to cap the spurt. Ricks also had seven points in the surge.

FLASH NUGGETS
James, who had a career-high 11 points coming into the season at UMES, has recorded double figures in all three games this season and has two games with at least 17 points. The graduate student became the first player in a Red Flash jersey to reach 20 points in a game. She also had five rebounds, four assists, and two steals on the night. The five rebounds tied a career best, while she now has 12 assists in her last two games.

Ricks is averaging 14.5 points per game in her last two games after registering 15 points against La Salle on Saturday. It is her eighth career 10+ point game, while she has five rebounds in all three games and 10 times in her career.

Sato, who did not record a double-figure point game in three years at Presbyterian, has recorded 10+ points in all three games in a Saint Francis jersey. She also had a season-high six rebounds and tied her career-high with three assists.

Cassandra Hawthorne added five points and five rebounds, while Giselle Eke made her 2025-26 debut with three points, one rebound, and a block. Eke, one of two returning players from last year, led the team in blocks in her freshman campaign. Ward registered four points, five rebounds, three assists and a steal. The freshman has grabbed five boards in her first three collegiate contests.

Saint Francis is in its first four-game non-conference homestand since 1984-85. 

NEXT ON TAP
The Red Flash return to action on Sunday at home against Lafayette. Game time is 2 p.m. Read Full Article