Anybody but UConn: Red Flash wait and wait to hear Ohio State

LORETTO – There were several cheers Monday night inside DeGol Arena.

But there wasn’t a game being played.

Instead, the 400-plus fans and students who filled the seat-backs were cheering for the St. Francis women’s basketball team and its draw in the NCAA Tournament as part of the university’s selection show celebration.

“This is pretty cool,” St. Francis coach Susan Robinson Fruchtl said during the festivities. “I’m glad to see a lot of students here. It’s exciting. It means so much to these guys to have this support.”

The loudest moment of the night was delivered when the Red Flash were paired with Ohio State – as the last announced game in the 64-team field.

“Suspense, right? I think the kids started to get a little nervous,” Robinson Fruchtl said. “I think they were anxious and thinking, ‘Are we really going to show up on that board?’”

“It’s a relief,” junior guard Samantha Leach said. “We were the last team called and we had to sit there and wait though that whole thing. We were all nervous.”

There was also a thunderous applause when St. Francis found out it wasn’t playing top-ranked Connecticut just moments earlier.

“I thought we were going to have to play UConn, so it’s definitely a relief,” Leach said.

Northeast Conference champion St. Francis (17-14, 11-7) was selected as the No. 15 seed in the Dayton Regional, while Big Ten champion Ohio State (30-4, 15-3) was tabbed as the No. 2.

The Buckeyes were also the regular season champs and are currently ranked No. 8 in both the AP and media polls.

“Ohio State is going to be quite a challenge. They’re really good,” Robinson Fruchtl said. “We’re going to have to work hard this week in practice. Our practice guys will have to get us ready. But I think our kids are excited.”

And fortunately for the Flash and their followers, the first-round game will be played Sunday at noon at the Petersen Events Center in Pittsburgh.

“We’re just thrilled. We’re going to Pittsburgh, we’re going to have a great fan-base,” Robinson Fruchtl said. “I’m surprised, but as time went on and looking at the brackets, [the selection committee] seemed to keep – as much as they could – teams close to home.”

For senior Janie Killian, it’s an opportunity to play in the NCAA Tournament in her hometown, even though she wouldn’t have been discouraged playing anywhere else.

“I’m just so happy to be playing in the NCAA Tournament, I would have went anywhere,” she said. “It feels great to be going home. I’m going home to play. I’m really excited.”

Aside from a 74-38 setback to open the season at Marquette, St. Francis has been in each of its games against favored opponents.

The Red Flash lost by five points each to then-No. 24 Pittsburgh and NCAA Tournament-bound Bowling Green, and fell to in-state rival Duquesne by four. St. Francis even held tough with South Florida after winning the Hatter Classic in the Sunshine State.

Bowling Green drew the No. 12 seed in the Kansas City Regional.

“Lower-seeded teams can win,” Robinson Fruchtl said. “We’ve seen it happen in the past. We know we’re going to have the underdog mentality. People might take you lightly and our team tends to relish those opportunities.”

Prior to watching ESPN’s selection show, the evening was highlighted by remarks from Robinson Fruchtl, NEC Tournament MVP Britney Hodges, Killian, and junior guard Allison Daly, as well as music from the Red Flash pep band and antics Buy Viagra Online Without Prescription by SFU’s mascot Frankie.

Killian and Hodges presented the NEC trophy – the program’s 10th in 14 years and first since 2005 – to St. Francis president Fr. Gabriel Zeis and athletic director Bob Krimmel.

Although it may not have been completely official until the brackets were released, the Red Flash finally get to go dancing again.

And the support they saw from the student body and their fan base will only help them get more motivated.

“I think it sunk in for them now,” Robinson Fruchtl said. “Especially tonight walking out and seeing the stands keep filling up. It was great support and we really are very appreciative and we are thrilled.”