FAIRFIELD, Conn. – A day after allowing Wagner College to shoot nearly 50 percent from the floor, the Sacred Heart University women's basketball team tightened up on defense and that led them to victory on Friday. The Pioneers played a strong second half on their way to a 58-50 victory over the Seahawks at the William H. Pitt Center.

Records:
Wagner: 1-2, 1-1 NEC
Sacred Heart: 2-4, 2-2 NEC

Top Performers:
Nikki Johnson (SHU): 11 points, 5 rebounds
Jayla Davis (SHU): 11 points, 5 rebounds
Kem Nwabudu (WC): 9 points, 4 rebounds

Up Next:
Sacred Heart is back at home January 14 to face Mount St. Mary's. The two-game series was moved up from January 28-29.

Of Note:
Drayah Heyword cut the Sacred Heart lead to 48-45 at the 6:54 mark of the fourth quarter. The Pioneers wouldn't let the Seahawks score for the next four minutes and built a 52-45 lead the visitors couldn't overcome on a pair of Jayla Davis free throw.

Sacred Heart limited Wagner to 25.8 percent from the floor in the second half, including 3-of-13 in the fourth quarter as part an overall rate of 38.6 percent.

SHU's ability to take advantage of the free throw line were key. The Pioneers were 17-of-21 (81%) compared to 65 percent (13-of-20) by the guests.

Sacred Heart built a 13-6 lead thanks to baskets by Sonia Smith and Kelsey Wood followed by two Davis free throws. Carly Stroemel made a bucket in the final five seconds of the opening quarter to stake SHU to a 17-10 lead.

Another Smith layup 34 seconds into the second quarter boosted the lead to 19-11, but from there the Seahawks worked their way back into the game. Two Zhaneia Thybulle free throws gave Wagner its first lead of the game (25-24). Adrianne Hagood converted a three-point play with 1:04 left in the half to put the Pioneers up 30-29 at the intermission.

Sacred Heart had the only three players in double figures as Davis and Nikki Johnson had 11 points each plus five rebounds. Hagood was next with 10 points while Wood grabbed a game-high eight rebounds to go along with nine points.

Kem Nwabudu and Alayshia Dailey topped the Seahawks with nine apiece.