WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
>> Saint Francis Women's Basketball's Airah Lavy scored a team-high 18 points in the 63-58 over Chicago State Saturday afternoon to move the team's home-game winning streak to four.

>> Lavy hit double-digit points for the seventh time this season and knocked down five three pointers for the third time as well. The freshman forward went 3-for-3 from the free throw line.

>> Yanessa Boyd was the second-leading scorer with eight points, including four free throws made in the final 26 seconds left. The sophomore guard secured the defensive rebound after a missed Chicago State three pointer that led to her two free throws to clinch the victory with one second left. She also led the squad in rebounds with six.

>> Women's Basketball has won six out of their last seven games and are now 7-3 in Northeast Conference (NEC) play. 

TURNING POINTS OF THE GAME
Chicago State started out the game with the upper hand, going up 7-2 at the 7:13 mark. A timeout from Keila Whittington helped jump start the Red Flash, as it sparked a 18-0 run to take a 20-7 lead before the Cougars got another basket at the 1:53 mark. The three pointer from Asha Walker helped the visiting team make their own rally with their own 11-2 run to cut their deficit to 22-18 at the end of the first quarter.

The second quarter started with a 8-3 run by Saint Francis in the first three minutes to go up 30-21. The closest that Chicago State got to the lead was a 32-27 five-point deficit as the Red Flash went into halftime with a 35-29 lead.

The Cougars scored the first six points in the third quarter to tie the game at 35 at the 6:17 mark. It would be the last time they approached the lead, as Saint Francis responded with a commanding 15-2 run to end the third. A jumper from Marina Artero helped push the lead to 50-37 heading into the final quarter.

Chicago State would not go away, as they roared back with a 19-6 rally to tie the game at 56 with 1:29 left in the fourth. Ineivi Plata put an end to that run with a layup to give the Red Flash a two-point lead with 58 seconds left. It was followed by forcing the Cougars to a shot clock violation and a succession of free throws that spearheaded a 7-2 run to give the home team the win.

FLASH MOMENTS
Lavy scored 12 of her points as a part of the Red Flash's 18-0 lead to help give the early 20-7.

Lavy and Harris Robinson contributed 11 of the team's 15 points during the squad's 15-2 run in the third quarter.

Artero sank a free throw with 23 seconds left to make the score, 61-58, before Chicago State's final shot.

FLASH NUGGETS
The Red Flash moved to 7-3 for the fifth time in team history. The squad is a half game above Stonehill (6-3) for the second seed going into next week's battle on the 13th. Saint Francis is a game and a half over third-seeded CCSU going into their showdown on the 15th as well.

The Red Flash defense continued their stifling defensive effort through their NEC games by holding the Cougars' offense to 35.9%. The team held leading scorer Aiyanna Culver to 10 points and made her go 3-for-15 from the field.

Robinson's five points in the third was a part of her 7-point performance to go along with a career-high five assists, three rebounds, and a steal.

Plata continues to be a pest on defense, recording two more steals in today's contest. The freshman guard has tallied a takeaway in 15 straight games dating back to Dec. 1, 2024. She also registered the team's lone block.

Natalie Johnson joined Plata with two steals.

Artero and Marissa Shelton each posted five rebounds. It is back-to-back games where Shelton has achieved five in a game.

NEXT UP FOR FLASH
The Red Flash will face Stonehill at DeGol Arena on Thursday, Feb. 13. Start time will be 7:00 p.m.