STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. (January 9, 2017)— The Sacred Heart Pioneers moved to 6-9, and 3-1 in the NEC as they took down the Seahawks of Wagner after a big second half. SHU's Kelcey Castro (Fairlawn, N.J.) set a new season high posting 16 points and leading the Pioneers. Hannah Kimmel (Harpursville, N.Y.)  ended the night with 12 points and just shy of a double-double with nine rebounds. Also posting her fourth straight double-digit game was Katherine Haines (Ridgefield, N.J.) who tallied 12 points.

The Pioneers started the game off dominant, with a shot from beyond the arc from Kimmel to get SHU on the board first. As both teams exchanged a pair of baskets the Seahawks took a temporary lead after a jumper from Kellie Crouch to put them ahead 7-5. Sacred Heart answered after a layup from Kimmel, and back-to-back baskets from Erin Storck (Commack, N.Y.) to regain the lead 13-9. The first quarter ended with both teams tied up 13-13.

The Second quarter started with both teams exchanging a pair of baskets, SHU's coming from a Haines layup. The Pioneers struggled to close out the first half as the Seahawks went on a 10-0 run. Wagner went into half time leading 28-21.

The Pioneer's entered the second half finally finding their rhythm, going on a 12-0 run to regain the lead 42-39. Castro led SHU with 11 points in the third quarter to give Sacred Heart a 47-43 lead entering the final quarter.

SHU didn't skip a beat in the final quarter as they started on a 12-3 run to extend the lead to 61-46, and putting the game out of reach for the Seahawks. SHU closed things out with a Kiana Ye (Williamstown, N.J.) jumper to win the game 70-56.

Noteworthy:

• Castro posts 16 points setting a new season high, all of which came in the second half. Castro (16), Kimmel (12), and Haines (12) extend the Pioneers 3+ player scoring in the double digits to four games.  

Inside the Box:

• Kimmel ended the night with nine boards leading the Pioneers, closely behind was Haines with eight rebounds. Wagner out rebounded Sacred Heart 36-33 to close the night.
• After a dominant second half SHU ended the night shooting 46.9% from the field (30-64).

Turning Point:

• Castro drained a buzzer beating basket from downtown to close out the third quarter, and give Sacred Heart a 47-43 lead, that would spark a dominant run for SHU entering the final quarter.

How It Happened:

First Quarter:

• Kimmel got things started for the Pioneers draining a deep three, to put the Pioneers on the board 3-0
• The Seahawks took the lead 7-5 after a jumper from downtown by Kellie Crouch, but the Pioneers answered with a Kimmel layup, and back to back baskets from Erin Storck to regain the lead 13-9
• The Seahawks went on a mini run scoring four points to close out the first quarter all tied up 13-13

Second Quarter:

• The second quarter started with both teams exchanging baskets, Haines picking up the hard fought layup for SHU
• Wagner then went on a 10-0 run to move the score to 25-15, an Adaysha Williams free throw to break up the momentum
• Sacred Heart ran a beautiful inbounds to set up a lay up from Williams with just five seconds remaining. The Seahawks scrambled to get to the opposite end of the court to throw up a buzzer beater that went in to close the half. Wagner led 28-21
• Haines ended the first half leading the team with six points, shooting 100% from the field (3-3), and added five rebounds.

Third Quarter:

• Castro came out firing for the Pioneers to start the second half, hitting a deep shot from downtown, followed by a layup to cut the Seahawk within five. Wagner led 33-28
• Wagner's Crouch drained back to back triples to extend the Seahawk lead to 39-32
• The Pioneers found their rhythm mid way thru the third quarter where they went on a 12-0 run to regain the lead 42-39
• Castro closed out the third quarter with a shot from beyond the arc to give the Pioneers the four point advantage going into the final quarter 47-43

Fourth Quarter:

• The Pioneers continued to roll into the fourth quarter. Shelby Hickey (Littleton, Colo.) drained a shot from downtown to put SHU ahead 57-46
• Ye drained a jumper late in the final quarter to end the game 70-56.