WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
>> Saint Francis women's basketball picked up a 75-67 victory over Wagner in NEC action Thursday night.
>> Coach Chynna Bozeman registered her first win as head coach.
>> Shelby Ricks posted a career-high 29 points, her second 20 point game of the season.
>> Sonia Sato, Gemma Walker, and Bati Assefa each recorded double figures on the night. Sato and Walker with 11 and Assefa with 10.

TURNING POINT OF THE GAME
Saint Francis established control early and steadily built a double-digit lead before halftime, leading by as many as 15 points in the second quarter. With Wagner cutting the deficit to two late in the third quarter, Saint Francis responded with timely shooting and defensive stops to regain greater possession and control. That early cushion in the first half allowed Saint Francis to stay comfortably ahead throughout the second half. A three-pointer by Ricks late in the period, followed by back-to-back threes from Sato and Walker early in the fourth, pushed the Red Flash lead back into double figures and shifted momentum for good leading to a Red Flash NEC victory.

FLASH MOMENTS
Saint Francis opened the fourth quarter by scoring seven of the first nine points, highlighted by consecutive three-pointers from Sato and Walker.

Ricks continued her hot shooting night with another three midway through the final period to stop a Wagner run and preserve a Red Flash advantage.

The Red Flash sealed the win at the free-throw line in the closing seconds, with Aleah James and Sato combining to close out the game.

FLASH NUGGETS
Thursday's game also coincided with a milestone moment in program history. The first documented women's basketball game at Saint Francis was played on this date in 1969, when the Red Flash earned a 59–24 victory at Mount Aloysius, located just down the street from campus.

The victory marked Chynna Bozeman's first career win as head coach at Saint Francis.

Ricks recorded a career-high 29 points, shooting 5-for-7 from three-point range and a perfect 8-for-8 at the free throw line. The performance marked her highest scoring output in a Saint Francis uniform.

Sato registered 11 points and tallied nine rebounds on the night. Nine rebounds marks a Red Flash high for Sato. Wagner's matchup marks her seventh double digit game of the season.
 
Walker reached double figures in scoring for the second time this season with 11 on the night.

Assefa's 10 point game marks the second game of the season where she registered double figures.

Saint Francis earned its first NEC win of the season with the victory.

NEXT ON TAP
Saint Francis will continue its home stretch on Saturday at 2 p.m., hosting LIU in DeGol Arena for its third straight home game.  Read Full Article