WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J.. – The Sacred Heart University women's basketball team won its second consecutive road non-conference game on Wednesday, handing defending CAA Champion Monmouth a 59-50 defeat at the Hawks' OceanFirst Bank Center in West Long Branch, N.J.

Records:
Sacred Heart: 2-1
Monmouth: 1-2
 
Top Performers:
Amelia Wood: 20 points, 5 rebounds, 3-for-5 3PT
Ny'Ceara Pryor: 17 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists
Sajada Bonner: 10 points, 3 assists, 2 rebounds
 
How It Happened:
The Hawks' defense controlled the action early on, holding a first-quarter-high, six-point lead, 8-2, 4:32 into the contest. However, Amelia Wood's offense got the Pioneers started, with the sophomore scoring eight points over the following 3:04 to help tie the score at 12-all. Both teams scored two points each over the final 2:32 of the quarter as the game transitioned to the second tied at 14-14. 

The contest remained close in the second quarter, with the score remaining within three for its duration. Two Nalyce Dudley field goals highlighted SHU's quarter, the former being the first of her collegiate career. Wood also found the bottom of the net in the second as she led all players with 10 at the half. 

Monmouth controlled the action again at the start of the third quarter, going up by six, 36-30, by the 6:17 mark of the quarter. Despite trailing, the Pioneers continued to show resilience, evening the score at 38-all over the next 3:09. SHU scored six of the final eight points to take a 42-40 advantage into the fourth. Sajada Bonner sparked the run with a triple, with Ny'Ceara Pryor and Olivia Tucker making jumpers. 

Following a defensive battle at the start of the fourth that ended with a Hawks' score, the Pios went on a 6-0 run to storm ahead 48-42 with 4:41 left. Once in the lead, Sacred Heart's defense would not let Monmouth get close, as the home team would not get within four for the remainder of the game. With some clutch free-throw shooting down the stretch, the Pioneers widened its advantage to a game-high nine, 59-50, by the final whistle. 

The Pioneers offense came alive in the second half, shooting 38.10% in the third and 28.57% in the fourth, with four of their six 3-pointers coming in the final two quarters. On the other end, SHU held the Hawks to 33.9% shooting from the floor and 6.7% from deep, as they made just one of 15 3-pointers in the game. 

Wood paced all players with a career-high 20 points. The sophomore shot 3-for-5 from behind the arc and hauled in five rebounds. Pryor played all 40 minutes tonight, tallying 17 points, nine rebounds and five assists. Bonner also reached double figures with 10. After scoring her first career points tonight, Dudley ended the game with eight and six rebounds. 

Up Next:
The Pioneers are at home for the first time this season on Sunday, Nov. 19, to play Hofstra in non-conference action at 2 p.m. at the Pitt Center. Prior to the game, SHU will have a banner-reveal ceremony to commemorate its 2022-23 NEC Championship and the team's win in the NCAA Tournament.