Phillipsburg’s Jess Kovatch Becomes St. Francis (PA) All-Time Leading Scorer

A big rally by St. Francis (PA) fell just short as the Red Flash was defeated by Montana, 79-77, on Sunday in the Husky Classic at Alaska Airlines Arena. Despite the loss, the Red Flash and it’s fans witnessed a record night for senior Jess Kovatch.

The Phillipsburg, NJ native led the Red Flash with 20 points and became the all-time leading scorer in St. Francis women’s basketball history. She now has 2,345 points in her four-year career.

Sunday was the sixth game this season in which Kovatch has scored 20 or more points. Her season high so far is 24 against Boise State.

Through the first ten games of the 2018-19 season, the senior guard is averaging 18.7 points and three rebounds per game. She is shooting just under 40% from the floor, 40% from three-point range, and 72% from the free-throw line.

For her career, Kovatch is averaging 21.9 points per game. Her highest output was last season as a junior in which she averaged 24.4 per game.

Kovatch’s career has been full of milestones and honors. As a freshman she was named the Northeast Conference and ECAC Rookie of the Year, was named NEC Second-Team All-Conference and won a NEC-Record 13 NEC Rookie of the Week Awards. She set the SFU and NEC freshman scoring record with 649 points and led all NCAA freshmen in scoring at 20.9 ppg. Kovatch became the first SFU freshman to score 30 points in a game.

As a sophomore, Kovatch was named Northeast Conference First Team and ECAC-All Star. That season, she was named to the Nancy Liebermann Watch List for the nation’s top point guard. She broke the Saint Francis single-season record for made threes with 110.

Last season, Kovatch set a NEC record with 831 total points and was named Northeast Conference and ECAC Player of the Year. She finished second in NCAA in total points and scoring at 24.4 ppg, set NCAA record with 141 made three pointers, set NEC and SFU record with 11 made threes vs FDU in NEC Tournament, and crossed the 2,000 career point mark (in just 91 games). She was a Top-10 Finalist for Lieberman Award.

The honors kept coming in prior to this season. Kovatch was named to the Preseason All-NEC Team, Preseason Drysdale Watch List for the nation’s top shooting guard and Preseason Lieberman Watch List for the nation’s top point guard. She has not disappointed thus far for Saint Francis.

Now the schools’ all-time leading scorer, Kovatch is looking for more. The Red Flash are off to a slow start at 2-8, but all eyes will be on Kovatch.