WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
>> Saint Francis Women's Basketball's
Natalie Johnson scored a career-high 21 points to help give the team a 66-60 overtime win over Le Moyne Thursday night.
>> Tonight's game marks the second time in her career that Johnson has poured in 20 or more points. The transfer junior from Robert Morris first did it on Jan. 2 at CCSU when she tallied 20 in the Red Flash's 73-59 victory over the Blue Devils. She also posted a team-high two steals and tied with
Harris Robinson for the most rebounds with seven, which is another career-high.
>>
Julianna Gibson and
Ineivi Plata each collected 10 points to compliment Johnson. The two have each contributed double-digit points in three conference games.
>> Women's Basketball has won five out of their last six games and are now 6-3 in the NEC.
TURNING POINTS OF THE GAME
Saint Francis got out to a hot 9-0 start thanks to two three pointers from
Yanessa Boyd. After Le Moyne called timeout at the 6:25 mark, they woke up with a 9-3 rally to cut the Red Flash advantage at the end of the first quarter to 12-9.
In a tough quarter shooting-wise for both teams in the second quarter, the Dolphins took their first lead of the game at 15-14 with 2:38 left. Similar to the first quarter, the Red Flash stole back momentum after their timeout with a personal 6-0 run by Johnson to help spearhead a 21-15 advantage going into halftime.
Saint Francis continued to pour it on with a 10-5 run to open up the third quarter. With a 31-20 deficit at the 7:04 mark, Le Moyne fought back with a 17-6 rally to knot the game at 37 going into the final quarter.
Gibson nailed back-to-back hook shots to give the Red Flash a 41-37 lead to open the fourth. A 7-3 run to follow by the Dolphins to tie it up at 44 with 5:28 left in regulation. The teams fought it out in the final five minutes, with Le Moyne's Brianna Williams hitting the game-tying layup with 54 seconds left that proved to send the game to overtime.
Another back-and-forth affair ensued in overtime, with the teams dead even at 58 with 1:54 left.
Natalie Johnson put an end to that matter with a pull up jumper to give Saint Francis a two-point lead. It helped spark a 8-2 run to help give the squad the win.
FLASH MOMENTS
Gibson (8) and Johnson (5) notched 13 of the 17 points scored in the fourth quarter. Plata's and-1 layup was the other three that helped put the team up 54-52 prior to Williams' layup.
During the Red Flash 8-2 run in overtime that put the game away, Johnson, Plata, and
Marissa Shelton all went 2-for-2 from the free throw line.
FLASH NUGGETS
It is the first time that a Saint Francis squad has won two games on the road in NEC play since the 2021-22 team beat CCSU and Sacred Heart Jan. 21-23.
Over the last three games, Johnson has eclipsed the double-digit point total and has averaged 16.7 points during the stretch. It moves her NEC average to 12.9 points a game through the eight game she was able to play. For the whole season, it is the 10th time scoring double figures.
The Red Flash outrebounded the Dolphins, 46-27. This included a 16-3 advantage on the offensive glass, with five players contributing two apiece. Along with Gibson providing her scoring, she grabbed six boards. Plata and Shelton tied for third on the team with five.
Thursday's battle marks the third time in four contests that Plata has reached double figures in scoring. The freshman is averaging 10 a game over the stretch. She also recorded a steal in her 14th straight game dating back to Dec. 1, 2024 at Duquesne.
Boyd and Shelton chipped in nine points apiece.
The team made a season-high 18 free throws. Johnson went 6-for-8 from the charity stripe, Shelton made five of her seven attempts, and Plata knocked down all five of her shots. The six and five attempts made from Johnson and Shelton are both career-highs.
NEXT UP FOR FLASH
The Red Flash will return to DeGol Arena Saturday, Feb. 8 to take on Chicago State at 4 p.m.
