Can St. Francis women’s basketball return to their dominance of 1996-2011, starting this season with an 8-0 NEC run?


Can SFU women return to the excellence of Jess Zinobile?/Photo Tribune-Review


The NEC 20th Anniversary MVP and a member of the conference’s 25th anniversary all-time team, Zinobile was NEC Player of the Year in 1997-98 and 1999-2000.


She led the Red Flash to four NEC titles and four NCAA tournament trips.


Her career scoring total of 2,338 points stood for 18 years before current senior Jess Kovatch broke the mark in December.


Zinobile, a NEC and SFU hall of famer, remains the only NEC player drafted into the WNBA. She was selected in 2000 by the Sacramento Monarchs.


Tribune-Review, February 8, 2019


… have key series with Sacred Heart this week


Starting in 1996 with Coach Jenny Przekwas, the St. Francis Red Flash women’s basketball program simply dominated the Northeast Conference for 15 years. 


During that time, they won 11 Northeast Conference Conference championships will gave them trips to the NCAA Women’s National Championship. 


However, over the past decade, the Red Flash have fallen somewhat, winning just one trip to the big dance, that one in 2018.


This year, the Red Flash women (10-4, 8-0) are situated at the top of the NEC standings under second-year Coach Keila Whittington, and now have to face Sacred Heart, which has a 5-5 record overall, 5-3 in the NEC race.


What makes this year and the future more promising is the departure of Robert Morris from the NEC last year. The Lady Colonials have dominated the conference over the past ten years, winning four NCAA trips over that time. 


No tournament was held last year, but RMU captured the regular-season title. 


Sacred Heart matchup


Because of the Covid 19 pandemic, the Red Flash have not played a full schedule. However, with two more wins this week, starting today at 6 p.m. and continuing Wednesday with a second game at 4.


The double-home games are being used by many schools to cut down on travel and to try and stay as safe as possible from the pandemic. 


Last week’s games


Two wins last week raised the Flash record to 8-0,


The Red Flash swept Merrimack in Loretto last week to improve to 8-0 in conference play. On Thursday, SFU won by a 70-62 victory. Swogger surpassed 1,000 career points in the win in which she led the offense with 17 points. Mastellone and freshman Kaitlyn Maxwell each had career-highs, scoring 16 and 12 points, respectively. Dapaa also scored in double figures with 10 points and was one rebound shy of a double-double to lead the team on the boards.

 

On Friday, Saint Francis won by a 61-48 margin. Dapaa recorded her second double-double of the season, matching her career-high 12 points and also grabbing 11 rebounds. Swogger and Mastellone rounded out a trio of double-figure scorers for the Red Flash with 11 and 10 points, respectively.


St. Francis athletics website


The Red Flash women have a one-game lead in the conference right now.


Current NEC Leaders


St. Francis, 8-0

Wagner, 7-1

Mt. St. Mary’s, 6-2

Sacred Heart, 5-3


The Matchup: Saint Francis (10-4, 8-0 NEC) vs. Sacred Heart (5-5, 5-3 NEC)

Location: Maurice Stokes Athletics Center (Loretto, Pa.)

Date and Time: Tuesday at 6 p.m. and Wednesday at 4 p.m.

Watch: NEC Front Row (Game 1) (Game 2)

Live Stats:  sfuathletics.com

Game Notes: Saint Francis

Social Media: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram


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