WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
>> Saint Francis could not overcome a late Chicago State run to fall 73-64 in NEC women's basketball action on Thursday.
>> Shelby Ricks paced the Red Flash with 18 points and 11 rebounds.
>> Aleah James (14 points) and Sonia Sato (13 points) also had double figures.
>> The Red Flash sits at 399 wins in the NEC regular season and heads home to honor the great history of Saint Francis women's basketball on Saturday.

TURNING POINT OF THE GAME
After Sato tied the game at 50, the Cougars went on an 11-2 run to take a 61-52 lead with 8:04 left in the fourth quarter. The Red Flash cut the margin to five points on a Ricks coast-to-coast layup with 1:43 left, but could get no closer the rest of the way. 

FLASH MOMENTS
In the third quarter, Makyiah Ward sparked a 14-8 run with six points to tie the game at 50 with 2:55 left. Sato had the final four points of the spurt to square the game. 

Ricks scored four of the first six points for the Red Flash to open up a 6-2 lead with 7:31 left in the first quarter.

Trailing 24-13 at the start of the second frame, the Red Flash went on an 18-10 run to trim the margin to 34-31 with 1:49 left until halftime. James had 10 points in a span of three minutes and 22 seconds to power the surge.

FLASH NUGGETS
Ricks registered her fifth double-double of the season, second in NEC play and sixth of her career. The graduate student, who had four-straight 10+ point games to end non-conference play, has posted double figures in every other contest since the start of league play. Ricks, who tied her career-high with four assists, has also had at least seven rebounds in five NEC games.

James has posted double figures in back-to-back games after she had 19 points against CCSU on January 17. It was the first time she had back-to-back 10+ point games since the first three games of the season. 

Sato reached double figures for the third time in league play and eighth time in her career. Ward finished with six points, four assists, and three rebounds.
 
NEXT ON TAP
Saint Francis returns to action at home against New Haven on Saturday. Game time is 1 p.m. The Red Flash will celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the start of the Saint Francis dynasty when the Loretto program won nine championships in 10 years. As part of the celebration, Stacy Alexander (1992-96), Mary Markey (1994-98), and Beth Swink (2001-05) will have their jerseys retired in a pregame ceremony starting at 12:40 p.m.  Read Full Article