FAIRFIELD, Conn.— The Sacred Heart University women's basketball made a tremendous second-half effort in its rematch with St. Francis Brooklyn but fell, 76-67, at the Pitt Center on Saturday.
 
Records:
Sacred Heart: 5-11, 4-7 NEC
St. Francis Brooklyn: 13-8, 9-4 NEC
 
Top Performers:
Sonia Smith: 19 points, 9 assists, 2 steals
Olivia Tucker: 16 points
Carly Stroemel: 12 points, 8 rebounds, 2 blocks
 
Up Next:
Sacred Heart begins a three-game road trip at Merrimack on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
 
Of Note
Sacred Heart struggled with its shots in the first quarter with 3-of-10 from the field but pulled together and notched 7-of-16 in the second. However, the Pioneers went into the locker room down 36-25.
 
Sacred Heart went on a 7-0 run at the 7:49 mark of the third quarter to trim St. Francis Brooklyn's lead to seven. The Terriers responded with a 5-0 run to bring their lead back to 53-39.
 
The Pioneers made an enormous surge in the fourth quarter with a 14-4 run to make it a six-point game with 3:16 left. But the Terriers would score four unanswered points, which Sacred Heart could not come back from.
 
The Pioneers saw three score double-figures for the seventh time this season. Sonia Smith led with 19 points and posted nine assists and two steals. Olivia Tucker scored 16 points while Carly Stroemel notched 12 along with a team-leading eight rebounds and two blocks.