Both St. Francis University basketball teams enter the 2025-26 season with plenty of outside doubters.
The Red Flash men were picked seventh in the 10-team Northeast Conference preseason coaches poll, while the St. Francis women were voted 10th.
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Each squad enters Monday’s opener with plenty of motivation and something to prove. Both rosters underwent major transformations over the offseason after the athletic department announced the Red Flash will transition from the NCAA Division I level this final season to the Division III classification in 2026-27 as members of the Presidents’ Athletic Conference.
“We were looking for guys who were hungry, with a chip on their shoulder, looking for something to prove, compete and get after it,” St. Francis men’s basketball coach Luke McConnell, who was promoted to head coach after Rob Krimmel stepped down after leading the Red Flash to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 34 years. “Recruiting is a lot about relationships. We put a great group together that I’m really excited for this community and this campus to see play together.”
The Red Flash men finished 16-18 and 8-8 in the NEC. St. Francis won six straight games, including all three contests in the NEC Tournament, before losing 70-68 to Alabama State in the First Four of the NCAA Tournament.
Seniors Gestin Liberis and Chris Moncrief and sophomore Victor Payne return from the 2024-25 NCAA Tournament team. Ryen Gresko, Carson Rhodes, KJ Swain Jr. and Trey Weiand are also back.
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“Making sure all of the guys are comfortable and feel welcomed,” Moncrief described his leadership role. “Make sure they get the offensive and defensive concepts down, playing together and being one when adversity does hit.”
The run to the NCAA Tournament attracted players to Loretto.
“It inspired me a lot just having a championship culture here,” said Zion Russell, who played at Niagara and Northern Illinois. “It just gave me the excitement level to be around a winning culture.”
The returners from the 2024-25 team have entered the season with more belief.
“I think it gives us a lot of momentum, and it gives us a lot of confidence, too,” Payne said.
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Getting a chance to play in March Madness was important to transfers.
“It was a big influence,” said Skylar Wicks, who played at Missouri State, Incarnate Word and Texas-San Antonio. “I definitely wanted to wanted to play for a winning team and have that tournament experience. I didn’t have that yet, so I’m looking forward to it.”
Forward Cam Tweedy and his Fairleigh Dickinson teammates made noise in March during the 2023 NCAA Tournament. Tweedy scored 10 points when the Knights, the NEC runner-up since Merrimack was ineligible to play, beat No. 1 overall seed Purdue.
“I’ve been to the tournament,” Tweedy said. “They’ve been to the tournament. We have something to prove. We have a chip on our shoulder, for sure, people doubting us.”
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The St. Francis women went 11-19 overall and 9-7 in the NEC, losing to Le Moyne in the conference quarterfinals. Sophomores Giselle Eke and Gemma Walker are the only two returning players from 2024-25.
“It’s very exciting,” Walker said. “I’m excited to see what the new team does. I think that we have a lot of potential. We have a lot of great talent, a lot of great transfers. I think we’ll make some noise this year.”
Under promoted head coach Chynna Bozeman, the Red Flash are eager to rise up the NEC standings.
“Being ranked No. 10 in the preseason poll, nothing gives you more energy than that,” St. Francis graduate student forward Shelby Ricks, a transfer from Bowie State. “Nothing gives you a push under your butt than that. It’s understandable, but at the same time, with all of us being transfers and having one freshman, we all know what it takes. We all are ready to give what it takes and we all are ready to give what we have. We won’t be 10 out of 10 in the end.”
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Bozeman’s season on staff as an assistant in 2024-25 paid off in constructing the roster.
“A huge benefit to me to be able to see the landscape of the NEC to start,” Bozeman said. “I think that’s a big deal because I kind of knew what pieces we kind of needed to make sure our roster was competitive. Then just getting a chance to work with this new group, build the chemistry, set a new standard for St. Francis basketball, that’s been a lot of fun.”
Bozeman is optimistic her team can compete for a league title.
“We believe that we are a championship team,” Bozeman said. “We’d like to remain in the top three. Make sure that we are imposing ourself on the other team and really getting who we are at St. Francis across when we play a game. The roster we built is very good. We’ve got some players coming in with some Division I experience. We have some veterans, a few grad students that give me the confidence that we’re going to be able to sustain a long season and also help our younger ones along. Second is the work that we’ve put in from preseason till now.”
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Presbyterian transfer and graduate student Sonia Sato, a 6-foot center, is determined to help the Red Flash succeed.
“We can prove people wrong,” Sato said. “We’re capable to be up there. That’s just motivation. The preseason rankings don’t really matter. It’s how we end is what matters most.”
Graduate student point guard and Maryland Eastern Shore transfer Aleah James is brimming with optimism.
“Coming off a good scrimmage with Bucknell, it’s a lot of excitement about going into nonconference play,” James said. “I’m excited to see how we continue to jell as a team and build off our last win.”
