The Red Flash women’s basketball team is selected to finish third in the pre-season coaches’ poll announced at Northeast Conference media day held in the Barclay’s Center in Brooklyn, New York.
Sophomore guard and recent recipient of the Lieberman Award watch list, Jessica Kovatch (Phillipsburg, N.J./Phillipsburg) was named to the pre-season All-NEC team. Kovtach is the reigning NEC and ECAC Rookie of the Year and was second-team All-NEC last season. She led the Flash and all NCAA freshman with a 20.9 points per game average. Her 649 total points is an NEC and SFU freshman record.
Defending regular season champion Sacred Heart earned the moniker as the pre-season favorite, earning six of the ten first-place votes. Robert Morris, who won the NEC tournament, was picked to finish second and earned three first-place votes. The Flash, earned one first-place vote and edged out Bryant for the third spot. SFU was picked eighth in the poll at this time last year before turning in an 11-7 conference mark that put them in a tie for third at the end of the season.
“It is night and day where this team is now and where it was this time last year,” coach Joe Haigh said. “We bring back four starters and we are incorporating six new players, it’s an exciting time, I am looking forward to the season.”
Joining Kovatch on the All-NEC team is Ivory Bailey from Bryant, Shanovia Dove from LIU, Hannah Kimmel from Sacred Heart and the reigning NEC Player of the Year, and Anna Niki Stamolamprou from Robert Morris.
Coach Joe Haigh and senior guard Katie Reese (Boonton Township, N.J./Mountain Lakes (Manhattan)) represented the Red Flash at media day, an event that was streamed and can be seen on-demand on NEC Front Row and ESPN3. The two participated in the “social” media day aspect of the even, taking social media questions from fans via Facebook and Twitter.
“This was a really cool experience,” Reese said. “I am really looking forward to the season, it’s been a really fun training camp.”
The Red Flash start their season with an exhibition on Wednesday, November 2nd against Pitt-Johnstown. They will open the regular season at Wisconsin on Sunday, November 13th.
NEC Pre-Season Poll
1) Sacred Heart (6)
2) Robert Morris (3)
3) Saint Francis U (1)
4) Bryant
5) LIU Brooklyn
6) St. Francis Brooklyn
7) Central Connecticut
8) Mount St. Mary’s
9) Fairleigh Dickinson
10) Wagner
