Saint Francis Red Flash Women’s Basketball Season Preview: 2024-25

Schedule

Roster

2023-24 Record: 5-25

2023-24: 8th Place

The Saint Francis Red Flash enter the 2024-25 season with a renewed sense of optimism, after a difficult 2023-24. Head Coach Keila Whittington, who has been with the program since 2019, aims to build on their conference performance and guide the Red Flash toward more consistency. Although they finished 4-12 in NEC play last year, they pulled off a notable upset against Le Moyne, who only had two regular-season conference losses. The Red Flash proved they can deliver big performances when needed, and with the wealth of experience returning, they’re poised to take a step forward this season.

Projected Rotation

Destini Ward (G, Jr.) – Ward is the unquestioned leader of the team this year. She averaged 11.4 PPG, 4.1 RPG, and 1.3 SPG last season before an injury cut her year short. She scored in double figures 13 times, with two 19-point games and a standout performance against Big Ten opponent Rutgers (14 points, 5 steals). Ward’s return to health and continued development will be crucial for the Red Flash’s success. Expect her to be the engine of the team, leading both offensively and defensively.

Kameryn Dorsey (G, Soph.) – Dorsey ranked in the top 15 among Division I freshmen with 3.4 APG last season. She brings great court vision and playmaking to the lineup, providing a steady hand in the backcourt. While her scoring numbers (3.5 PPG) weren’t high, her ability to set up teammates will be key to Saint Francis' offense. Look for her to build on that foundation this year.

Julianna Gibson (F, Jr.) – Gibson played nearly 26 minutes per game last season, providing 4.9 RPG and 5 PPG. She also added 0.3 BPG and 0.5 SPG. Gibson’s inside presence on both ends of the floor will be vital, especially with her experience and versatility. Her role in crashing the boards and contributing defensively will complement the Red Flash’s backcourt.

Marina Artero (F, Soph.) – Artero is another forward who saw significant minutes last season, averaging 25.5 MPG with 5.5 RPG and 3.7 PPG. She has a knack for getting into the passing lanes, as evidenced by her 0.7 SPG, and is a steady contributor in multiple areas. As she continues to develop, Artero will provide more stability in the frontcourt.

Natalie Johnson (G, Jr.) – Johnson is a Horizon League transfer from RMU and should immediately impact the Red Flash. She brings valuable experience and averaged 5 PPG in 14.8 MPG last year. Johnson’s role could expand in the Saint Francis system, especially with her shooting and defensive abilities.

Jade Campbell (F, Jr.) – Campbell is entering her junior season, and after averaging 13.2 minutes per game last year, she is poised for an expanded role in the frontcourt. Though her scoring output was modest (3.0 PPG), she contributed solid rebounding (4.2 RPG), which will be key for the Red Flash in controlling the boards. Campbell’s hustle on defense, along with her ability to block shots, makes her a valuable asset, especially when providing relief for starting forwards. As her minutes increase, expect Campbell to make more of an impact in both scoring and defense.

Yanessa Boyd (G, Soph.) – Boyd was a strong contributor last season, averaging over 25 minutes per game, and she figures to be an important piece in the Red Flash backcourt this year. While she posted 7.1 PPG, Boyd’s ability to contribute in multiple areas—such as her rebounding (3.1 RPG) and playmaking (0.9 APG)—is a key asset for Saint Francis. Her athleticism allow her to disrupt opponents defensively, as seen in her 0.8 steals per game. Expect Boyd to continue her development and potentially gain even more minutes her confidence and scoring touch grow.

Marissa Shelton (G, Jr.) – Shelton is entering her junior season after averaging 15.2 minutes per game last year, providing steady play in a guard role. With 3.9 PPG and a respectable shooting touch, Shelton has the potential to take on a larger role in the offense, especially as a perimeter shooter. While she didn’t fill the stat sheet in other areas, her ability to provide a scoring spark in limited minutes makes her valuable to the team. This year, Shelton could see an increased role, particularly in games where the Red Flash need spacing and shooting.

Harris Robinson (G, Sr.) – As a senior, Robinson brings leadership and experience to the Red Flash backcourt. She averaged 23.3 minutes per game last season, contributing 4.0 PPG and 4.3 RPG, making her one of the team’s more balanced players. Robinson’s ability to attack the glass from the guard position is vital, and her defensive awareness (0.6 SPG) adds value on that end of the floor. Her role this season will likely be more defined as a defensive stopper and a steady hand on offense. With her seniority, Robinson is expected to play a key role both on and off the court as a leader for this team.

Team Preview

The Red Flash will need to lean heavily on Ward to lead the way, but they bring back plenty of experience that should lead to improvement from last year’s 5-25 record. Despite some turnover, the Red Flash return a solid core, including Ward, Gibson, and Dorsey. The experience they’ve gained could prove invaluable in a more competitive NEC this season.

With several freshmen joining the squad, including guard Airiah Lavy and forward Giselle Eke, the team also has a youthful energy that could surprise opponents. If their new pieces can fit into the rotation quickly and players like Ward and Dorsey take the next step, Saint Francis could be a much-improved team in 2024-25.

If you can say nothing else about the Red Flash, you can say this: this is a deep, deep team with a lot of returning minutes. Look for them to survive some personnel turnover and play at least 9 players in the rotation. They’ll stay fresh and maybe those wins that were considered upsets last year will be thought of as expected in 2024-25.