LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Sacred Heart University women's wrestling team was on both ends of close meets Saturday during the second day of the NWCA National Duals at the Kentucky Exposition Center. In a rematch of last month's Northeast Duals, the eighth-ranked Pioneers defeated No. 9 Gannon, 24-23. SHU started the day against number seven Presbyterian, the first dual meet between NCAA Division I programs, but fell 26-20.
 
With the split, Sacred Heart is 13-4 in dual meets.  
 
SHU was out early against Gannon as No. 8 Aaliyah Payne-Paris pinned Chloe Kitagawa in 2:26. Sixth-ranked Alexandra Fitzgerald's pin in just 40 seconds at 130 pounds put the Pioneers up 13-11, but the Golden Knights got the next two contests to take a 13-21 advantage. 
 
Starting the SHU comeback was Madison Sandquist at 155 pounds when she beat Annabella Helm, 5-2. Turning the tide was Cara Broadus as she upset #6 Jewel Gonzalez with a pin at 1:28 at 170 pounds. Completing the comeback was Jacklyn Smith as her 4-1 victory at 191 pounds gave SHU the deciding points.
 
In the opening match against Presbyterian, the Pioneers dug themselves too big of a deficit as they trailed 17-1 after the first four bouts. Fitzgerald stopped the run by recording a 10-0 tech fall against Sierra Maire Miller. Unfortunately, Gannon won the next two contests to secure the team victory despite two forfeits and another Broadus pin in the last three matches.
 
The Pioneers return home on January 15 to face No. 18 Lock Haven at 1 p.m. 
 
#8 Sacred Heart 24, #9 Gannon 23                                                                                           SHU-GU
101     #8 Aaliyah Payne-Parris (SHU) def. Chloe Kitagawa (GU) Fall 2:26                                           5-0
109     #4 Julianne Moccia (GU) def. Ashia Torres (SHU) Fall 1:50                                                      5-5
116     Nohea Moniz (SHU) def. Samantha Larsen Decision 8-2                                                         8-6
123     Juliana Cubias (GU) def. Tati Walker Fall 0:59                                                                       8-11
130     #6 Alexandra Fitzgerald (SHU) def. Jayden Bazemore (DU) Fall 0:40                                    13-11
136     #8 Lana Perez (GU) def. Veronica Whitacre (SHU) Fall                                                        13-16
143     Lili Ujfalvi (GU) def. Selena Sifuentes-Shaffer (SHU) Fall                                                      13-21
155     Madison Sandquist (SHU) def. Annabella Helm Decision 5-2                                               16-22
170     Cara Broadus (SHU) def. #6 Jewel Gonzalez (DU) Fall 1:28                                                  21-22
191     Jacklyn Smith (SHU) def. Kendall McGarity Decision 4-1                                                      24-23
 
#7 Presbyterian 26, #8 Sacred Heart 20                                                                                    SHU-PC
101     #5 Samantha Miller (PC) def. #8 Aaliyah Payne-Parris (SHU) Decision 8-4                                1-3
109     Cassy Lopez (PC) def. Ashia Torres (SHU) Fall 3:48                                                                  1-8
116     #6 Ainslie Lane (PC) def. Nohea Moniz (SHU) Tech Fall 11-0                                                  1-12
123     Catherine Bertrand (PC) def. Tatiana Walker (SHU) Fall :45                                                   1-17
130     #6 Alexandra Fitzgerald (SHU) def. Sierra Marie Miller (PC) Tech Fall 10-0                             5-17
136     Sierra Marie Miller (PC) def. Veronica Whitacre (SHU) Fall 1:13                                            5-22
143     Paige Wehrmeister (PC) def. Selena Sifuentes-Shaffer (SHU) Tech Fall 10-0                           5-26
155     Madison Sandquist (SHU) wins by forfeit                                                                           10-26
170     Cara Broadus (SHU) def. Isabella Badon (PC) Fall 0:15                                                         15-26
191     Jacklyn Smith (SHU) wins by forfeit                                                                                    20-26