MOUNT ST. MARY'S vs. SAINT FRANCIS U
Saturday, February 15 | 1:00 p.m.
Emmitsburg, Md. | Knott Arena

NEC FRONT ROW | LIVE STATS | GAME NOTES         

EMMITSBURG, Md. (Feb. 14, 2020) – After almost three weeks playing away from home, the Mount women's basketball team returns to Knott Arena Saturday. Facing them will be the Saint Francis U Red Flash, who are battling the Mountaineers for the second place position in the Northeast Conference (NEC) standings. 

THE MATCHUP 

Mount is seeking their first victory against the Red Flash since 2017, and the first in Emmitsburg since 2015. Saint Francis leads the series, 38-29, but the Mountaineers do hold a 19-16 advantage in contests played at Knott Arena. 

The Red Flash possess a four game win streak entering Saturday, culminating in sweeps over the past two years. Last season, SFU took the game in Loretto 68-66, using a three pointer by Karson Swogger with 1:30 left to pull away for good. Then they came to Emmitsburg and earned an 83-72 win, receiving a boost from Mount's foul trouble. The Mountaineers were charged with 25 fouls, leading to a 33-for-38 showing at the charity stripe by SFU. 

Both squads have already clinched NEC Tournament berths with victories this past Monday. Mount stands in second place at 9-2 while SFU holds third place at 9-4. 

MOUNTAINEER REPORT  

Success against Saint Francis U would mean a fifth straight win for the Mount, which would be the team's longest since the 2013-14 WNIT campaign. That year the Mountaineers won eight in a row - all over NEC opponents. 

Encompassed in that streak was a 4-0 road trip - matched by the current Mountaineers over the past couple weeks. During this win streak, the team averaged 70 points while limiting opponents to 59.5 points. Michaela Harrison led the way with 16.3 points per contest. Kendall Bresee added averages of 11 points and seven rebounds. 

Another boost came from Rebecca Lee, who scored 50 points, grabbed 18 rebounds, and rejected 10 shots. In the 67-58 win against Sacred Heart, she tallied seven blocks - the highest for a Mountaineer in almost 30 years, and the second-most for a game in program history. Lee then finished with 23 points - a career high - as the Mount defeated Long Island, 77-57. 

The group also collected 36 rebounds per game, and earned a margin of +1.3 for the four games, moving their margin from ninth in the NEC to sixth. Mount is 6-0 when they exceed their opponents in rebounding. 

SCOUTING THE RED FLASH

12-time champions of the NEC, Saint Francis enters Saturday at 11-13 on the season, matching the Mountaineers with nine conference victories. They have taken three of their last four, including a 48-39 triumph versus Sacred Heart last Monday. 

Defense is a key factor to the Red Flash's success. In seven of 11 wins, they have capped their opponents to 60 points or less. The 39 points by the Pioneers is the smallest total for an SFU challenger this season. 

On offense, Saint Francis scores 10 points fewer on average than Mount St. Mary's, but they do have some firepower. Swogger is their leading scorer with 11.9 points per game. Right behind her is Haley Thomas with 11 points, while pulling in 6.1 rebounds per game. 

LOOKING AHEAD

Mount St. Mary's goes back on the road for two more games after Saturday. The Mountaineers face off with Wagner in a Monday (Feb. 17) matinee before heading to Pittsburgh for a Friday (Feb. 21) showdown with NEC leader Robert Morris.