Pioneers Host Saint Francis U Saturday in Quarterfinal Rematch
1/9/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
SACRED HEART (6-6, 1-1 NEC) VS SAINT FRANCIS U (2-11, 1-1 NEC)
GAME 13 * Fairfield, Conn. * Dave Bike Court at the William H. Pitt Center * 1:00 PM
Live Stats and Video
Autism Awareness Day...
Sacred Heart University, in conjunction with the Fairfield/Westchester Chapter of Autism Speaks, will host an event benefitting Autism Speaks at its women's and men's basketball doubleheader on January 10. Fans attending the game will be able to learn more about autism spectrum disorder as well as the mission of Autism Speaks at an information table located in the lobby of the Pitt Center. Donations for Autism Speaks will also be accepted, with items such as pins, water bottles and hats being provided as a thank you from Autism Speaks. In addition, local merchants, including; The New York Mets, The Field House, Fairfield Ice Academy, Gymnastics and Cheer Academy and GCA Parkour, Carabiner's Indoor Climbing, Benefit Cosmetics, Chip's, Orange Theory Fitness, Brick & Wood and Colony Grill; have donated items for fans in attendance that support Autism Speaks that day, with a contribution, to win.
Those in attendance will also notice that the atmosphere of the game will be slightly quieter than a normal SHU basketball game. The volume of public address announcements and music played throughout the game will be turned down to make the environment more hospitable for any fans with sensory sensitivities. There will also be a quiet area in the Pitt Center made available to those fans who may need to take advantage.
Inside the Series...
- This is the 28th meeting between Sacred Heart and Saint Francis U
- All contests have come as Division I Northeast Conference foes
- The teams split the regular season in 2013-14 with each team collecting the win on their respective home court
- The Pioneers and Red Flash have met three times in the Northeast Conference Tournament. The first time was in the title game in 2009 when the Pioneers clinched their second NEC title. In 2013, the two batttled it out in the semi-final where SFU knocked out SHU with the 83-67 win. Last year, the Pioneers and Red Flash duked it out in a double-overtime NEC quarterfinal battle. Once again, Sacred Heart lost the battle in record-breaking fashion, 132-124
SHU Against the NEC...
- SHU is 218-113 all-time against Northeast Conference opponents
- The Pioneers were an even 9-9 last season in conference play
- Entering the NEC Tournament as the six seed, the Sacred Heart headed to Loretto, Pa. to face Saint Francis U in the quarterfinal. After a double-overtime battle, the Red Flash moved on to the semifinal with a 132-124 win
- SHU has a winning record against all NEC teams: Bryant 11-8, Central Connecticut State 28-15, Fairleigh Dickinson 24-2, LIU Brooklyn 16-14, Mount St. Mary's 24-5, Robert Morris 20-8, Saint Francis U 16-11, St. Francis Brooklyn 23-10 and Wagner 20-9
- Sacred Heart is 16-12 in the Northeast Cofnerence Tournament, and have won three Championships (2006, 2009, 2012)
Scouting the Red Flash...
- Senior Rebecca Hayward's 22.9 points per game is eighth among the Division I ranks
- After finishing the non-conference slate 1-10, the Red Flash split the first two games of Northeast Conference play, falling to Wagner 76-60 in the opener before downing preseason favorite Robert Morris 71-68 two days later
- SFU prepared to make another run at the NEC Championship with a very tough schedule that saw the Red Flash take on three teams that are currently receiving votes in the Associate Press poll (No. 7 Tennessee and Ohio State and West Virginia, who are receiving votes)
- The Red Flash's only non-conference win was against Coastal Carolina, 75-72
Pioneers Against the NEC at Home...
Sacred Heart has had many magical moments in the William H. Pitt Center including clinching three Northeast Conference Championship. The Pioneers are 119-20 all-time against NEC opponents at home and 12-5 in Tournament play.
Last Time Out...
The Sacred Heart women's basketball team fell to Central Connecticut State Monday night 62-49 in the William H. Pitt Center after never managing a lead in the game. Lerae Ettienne, Adaysha Williams and Tykera Carter led the team with eight points each as the Pioneers drop to 6-6 on the season and 1-1 in Northeast Conference play. With the win, the Blue Devils improve to 6-7 and 2-0 against NEC opponents. The Pioneers chased the Blue Devils from the beginning, as CCSU opened the game with a 6-2 run.
