Terriers Looking for Fourth Conference Win vs. Sacred Heart

Terriers Looking for Fourth Conference Win vs. Sacred Heart
 
THE MATCHUP:
St. Francis Brooklyn vs. Sacred Heart
Saturday, January 19, at 1 p.m.
Brooklyn Heights, NY
Live Video | Live Stats
 
The Terriers of St. Francis Brooklyn (9-7, 3-1) return to action this weekend to welcome the Pioneers of Sacred Heart University (8-7, 4-0) on Saturday, January 19, at 1 p.m. from the Pope Physical Education Center. St. Francis Brooklyn came from nearly a dozen-point deficit to sink the Saint Francis University Red Flash this past Monday. With things getting tighter in the NEC, the Terriers rise to a third-place tie, one game behind the leaders. St. Francis Brooklyn is currently tied with the Red Flash (3-1), and are one game behind Sacred Heart and Robert Morris, who are both 4-0. The Pioneers travel to Remsen Street after taking down Bryant in Fairfield by a lone point to keep their win streak alive.
 
ALL-TIME SERIES:
St. Francis Brooklyn trails Sacred Heart 14-28 all time. The previous contest featured these two schools battling head-to-head on the campus of the opposition on February 24, 2018. The game featured three players to put up double-figures in the scoring column. Jade Johnson with 15, Alex Delaney with a dozen, and off the bench, Abby Anderson would sink home 10. Current Pioneers Erin Storck, Candice Leatherwood combined for 36 of Sacred Heart's points. A comeback in the making from the Terriers would not be enough as they outscored the Pioneers 37-26 in the second half, but fell 66-60. Current Terriers who have not faced Sacred Heart are: Horton, Bauhof, and Ward.
 
LAST TIME OUT:
Attempting to rebound from the Robert Morris contest roughly five days ago, the Terriers began a bit streaky that had some on edge. On edge, were the players, who wanted a win. The Red Flash would outscore St. Francis Brooklyn 18-14 at the end of the first quarter after Horton and Palarino opened the game on a 4-0 run. The second-half could not come soon enough for the Terriers as Jade Johnson put the team on her back. The Australian native would score 24 second half points. St. Francis Brooklyn outscored Saint Francis University 28-10 in the third stanza. She was not finished, as Johnson scored nine more points, which included two perfect trips to the free-throw line (4-for-4) The Terriers would not look back as they went on to sink the Red Flash by 13 at the Pope.
 
TEAM NEC LEADERS:
The Terriers are currently first in the conference in scoring (75.4 ppg), scoring margin (+4.3), field goal percentage (44.0%), three-point field goal percentage (40.6%), rebounding offense (42.0 RPG), rebounding margin (+3.9) assists per game (15.9), total assists (254), three-way tie of first place in assist/turnover ratio (0.8), defensive rebounds (29.6 RPG).
 
INDIVIDUAL NEC LEADERS:
The Terriers have five players ranked in the top 30 of the conference in scoring. Johnson is ranked second in points per game with 18.4. O'Neill leads the conference in both assists (122) and assists per game (7.6). Mia Ehling and Jade Johnson sit first and second on the three-point field-goal percentage list (45.0 and 44.9 respecively) . Johnson also ranks first in the free-throw percentage category (91.2). Amy O'Neill ranks first in assist/turnover ratio (+1.8). O'Neill also has averaged the most minutes played per game (36.2).
 
HERE COMES DOMINIQUE:
Graduate guard Dominique Ward has eclipsed double-figures in the scoring column dating back to December 30 against Stony Brook, where she exploded to match a career high in points with 18. In the previous two contests, the Trenton, NJ native scored 12 against Robert Morris and 16 at Bryant.
 
MILESTONE WATCH:
Senior Amy O'Neill is four assists away from surpassing Justine Paxhia for 12^th on the all-time list in program history. Junior Jade Johnson is one three-pointer away from slipping past Margaret Murphy (147) into 6^th all time in three-point field goals made in program history. Johnson is also one triple away from moving in front of former teammate Alex Delaney and Margaret Murphy for 9^th place on the all-time triples made in a season list. Senior Maria Palarino is three rebounds away from surpassing Christine Cunningham (556) for 15^th all-time on the career rebounds list.
 
1,000 POINT WATCH: MARIA PALARINO
With her nine-point performance against Saint Francis University, Irwin, PA native and senior guard Maria Palarino has continued to make her mark into the St. Francis Brooklyn women's basketball program record book. Palarino sits with 973 career points. She is 27 points away from surpassing the thousand-point mark.
 
TOP OF THE NATION:
Australian native Amy O'Neill currently ranks fourth on the total assist chart (122). O'Neill also ranks fourth in the nation in assists per game (7.6) Jade Johnson is tied for 12^th in the nation on the free-throw percentage column (91.2). She is tied with Northeastern's Jess Genco, and Purdue's Karissa McLaughlin. Johnson is also ranked 14^th in the nation in three-pointers made per game (3.31).
 
NEC WEEKLY AWARDS:
Senior guard and captain Jade Johnson was named to her fifth Prime Performer list of the season for her respective conference. She joins fellow teammates Dominique Ward, Amy O'Neill, Maria Palarino, and Ally Lassen on the list. The Australian native was also named as a Co-Player of the Week on the week of November 19. It was the first time in her career that Johnson took home the honor.
 
UP NEXT:
The Terriers return to action on Monday, January 21 when they travel down the block for Part I of the 2019 Battle of Brooklyn to face the Blackbirds of Long Island University Brooklyn for a noon matinee showdown at the Steinberg Wellness Center.