SHU vs. SFU Rematch Saturday on ESPN3
1/16/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
SACRED HEART (7-7, 2-2 NEC) VS SAINT FRANCIS U (2-13, 1-3 NEC)
GAME 15 * Loretto, Pa. * DeGol Arena * 1:00 PM
Live Stats and Video
Inside the Series...
- This is the 29th meeting between Sacred Heart and Saint Francis U
- Just last week, the Pioneers squeezed out an 82-77 win over the Red Flash, who overcame a 15 point deficit in the final five minutes of the game
- All contests have come as Division I Northeast Conference foes
- The teams split the regular season in 2013-14 with each team collecting the win on their respective home court
- The Pioneers and Red Flash have met three times in the Northeast Conference Tournament. Last year, the Pioneers and Red Flash duked it out in a double-overtime NEC quarterfinal battle. Once again, Sacred Heart lost the battle in record-breaking fashion, 132-124
Last Time They Met...
Last minute Pioneer free throws from Hannah Kimmel and Gabrielle Washington lifted the Sacred Heart women's basketball team to its ninth straight regular-season home win over Saint Francis U 82-77 last Saturday afternoon in the William H. Pitt Center. With just over five minutes on the clock, an Alexa Hayward jumper sparked a Red Flash comeback in the form of seven unanswered points that cut SHU's lead to 68-65. At the 2:26 mark, Hayward cut through the defense to hit a jumper in the paint, bringing SFU within one point of catching the Pioneers. Adila Gathers brought the Red Flash all the way back overcoming a 15-point deficit tying the score at 72 with a bucket from the line. A good foul shot from sophomore Adaysha Williams moments later put the Pioneers up one. Aisha Brock answered with a layup to give the Red Flash their first lead since 17:32 in the first half, 76-75. Kimmel landed a pair of free throws with 43 seconds on the clock to give SHU back the lead 77-76, but Cydney Smith made one of two from to knot the score at 77 heading into the final 30 seconds of the game. Three seconds later, Kimmel was back at the line for two shots after being fouled by Maya Wynn. Clinching to win for the Pioneers, the red shirt junior knocked down both shots for the 79-77 advantage.
Scouting the Red Flash...
- After Sacred Heart foiled SFU's comeback last Saturday, the Red Flash suffered another narrow loss Monday night 87-83 to Bryant falling to 1-3 in Northeast Conference play
- Saint Francis is led by guard Rebecca Hayward, who is fifth in the country with 23.5 points per game and 29th in three-point field goals per game
- SFU prepared to make another run at the NEC Championship with a very tough schedule that saw the Red Flash take on three teams that are currently receiving votes in the Associate Press poll (No. 7 Tennessee and Ohio State and West Virginia, who are receiving votes)
- The Red Flash's only non-conference win was against Coastal Carolina, 75-72
