FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Injuries and illness have hampered the Sacred Heart University women's basketball team for most of the season. Unfortunately, the Pioneers' limited roster couldn't come through with a victory to keep their playoff hopes alive as visiting Merrimack College prevailed, 70-61, on Thursday.

Records:
Merrimack: 10, 4-10 NEC
Sacred Heart: 8-9, 8-7 NEC

Top Performers:
Jayla Davis (SHU): 18 points, 9 rebounds Nikki Johnson (SHU): 12 points
Kate Mager (MC): 19 points

Up Next:
The two teams play the final game of the regular season Friday at 7 p.m.

Of Note:
With the loss, Sacred Heart is eliminated from the NEC Tournament. Even if the Pioneers win game two on Friday and Fairleigh Dickinson loses at Bryant, the Knights will have a better winning percentage.

Merrimack built a 58-50 lead on a Kate Mager layup just 69 seconds into the fourth quarter. Tiffany Hammond drilled a three-pointer with 2:52 left to make it a 65-61 game, but that would be the last points SHU scored the remainder of the game.

SHU dug itself an early hole, falling behind 9-3 on a Diamond Christian three-pointer. The Pioneers responded with a 9-0 run that was capped by a Marie-Laeticia Ziba layup.

Adrianne Hagood made a pair of free throw midway through the second quarter to give SHU 28-22 lead. The Warriors hung around and narrowed the SHU lead to 32-30 at the half.

The Pioneers shot 28.6 in the fourth quarter and 38.7 percent for the game. Merrimack doubled up SHU from behind the arc, nailing 8-of-20 compared to 4-of-20 by the hosts.

Producing a team-highs of 18 points and nine rebounds was Jayla Davis while Nikki Johnson added a dozen. Ziba just missed her career-high with 10 points.

Leading all scorers was the Warriors' Mager and Alyssa Casey came off the bench to score 18 points and grab seven boards.