Former SFU stars recall their chance to play in big dance

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March 20, 2010

BY HUGH CONRAD The Tribune-Democrat Sat Mar 20, 2010, 09:38 AM EDT

LORETTO — Stacy Alexander still clearly recalls a cherished experience.

The former St. Francis basketball player was a member of the Red Flash team that first earned a trip to the NCAA tournament in 1996 when playing for former coach Jenny Przekwas. Now an assistant coach at Towson University, Alexander, who has scored more points than any girl at Portage Area High School, recalled her experience as a senior at St. Francis.

“I think about it all the time,” Alexander said. “I’m still in athletics, in coaching, and I remember looking back on that day that we won the championship (83-75 over Mount St. Mary’s). That is one of the best days of my life. We played three straight championship games against Mount St. Mary’s, and finally, the third time, we won it.”

The win by Alexander’s team led to nine tournament championships in 10 years. After a

5-year hiatus, the 2010 Red Flash squad, now coached by Susan Robinson Fruchtl, is back in the NCAA title chase, playing Ohio State in the Dayton Regional on Sunday at 12:06 p.m. at the Petersen Events Center at the University of Pittsburgh.

Beth Swink and Carlin Chesick also remember their participation in the NCAA Tournament. Chesick, now an assistant commissioner in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference, played in three tournaments: 1999, 2002, and 2003.

Her memories are also ones that she still cherishes.

“Being from the Chicago area, I played on AAU teams with some girls who went to some big-time schools,” Chesick said.

“But, a couple of them never went to the (NCAA) tournament. To be part of three teams that went to the tournament, and playing against top competition like UConn, Iowa State and Villanova – no one will ever be able to take that away from me.”

The Red Flash women have never won an NCAA tournament game, but they played their best one in Chesick’s senior season, a 51-36 loss to Villanova in 2002.

Alexander was named to the Northeast Conference first team all-conference twice, earning Co-Player of the Year in her junior season. Chesick was also named to the NEC first team twice.

Beth Swink is second on the St. Francis all-time scoring list with 2,127 points and third in rebounds (957). She was named NEC Player of the Year in her junior season and first-team all NEC in her senior year.

Swink returned to St. Francis and earned a degree in the physician’s assistant program and is currently employed in Pittsburgh in that field.

She was very happy with the Red Flash’s win over Long Island University on Sunday.

“I watched the championship game on TV,” she said. “I was so happy that they won. It brought a tear to my eyes. Finally, St. Francis is back where they should be. I know that a lot of our alumni is happy and proud of the girls.”

After Przekwas led the Red Flash to four NCAA tournament berths, she resigned in 1999 to take a job at Washington State.

Myndi Hill replaced her and earned three berths in her four seasons (2000, 2002, 2003). Jill Poe led the Red Flash to the final two tournament spots (2004, 2005) in her first two seasons.

The Red Flash are a 15th seed, but seldom has a 15th or 16th seed won a tournament game. Alexander explained that upsets are possible. “Usually, the 15th and 16th seeds are from the smaller conferences,” Alexander said. “In the last 10 years, you have seen a lot of upsets. If you are playing well as a team, anyone can beat another team on a bad night. A couple of teams have proven that.”

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