Sacred Heart Set for 50th Season of Women's Basketball
11/3/2023 4:30:00 PM | Women's Basketball
The 2023-24 Preseason NEC favorites begin play on November 7 at Rhode Island
FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The biggest obstacle facing the Sacred Heart University women's basketball team heading into the 2023-24 season is how to add to the history set a year ago. The Pioneers' answer has been to build a stable culture that is rarely seen in the current climate of Division I athletics.
The 2022-23 Pioneers reached heights that no other Northeast Conference (NEC) program had ever been able to reach. After going on the road to beat top seeded FDU in the NEC Championship Game, SHU became the first NEC basketball team to win an NCAA Tournament game by defeating Southern in the NCAA First Four.
After reaching new levels of success, teams typically see roster turnover the following season. That is not a problem the Pioneers will encounter in 2023-24, as the team returns all six of its top minute earners from a season ago. This stability led to SHU being named preseason NEC favorites.
"We were honored to be picked first," Head Coach Jessica Mannetti talking about being named the NEC preseason favorites. "It shows that the hard work that the team put into creating a great opportunity to be successful has paid off. Again, the preseason poll is just the preseason poll. No one has one a game yet. We are going to keep the focus, just like we have done in the past, at getting better everyday, putting our best effort on the floor, and staying connected to ensure success."
Leading this group is star sophomore Ny'Ceara Pryor, who made history last season as the first NEC player to win Player, Defensive and Rookie of the Year in the same season. A 2023-24 Preseason All-NEC Team honoree, Pryor led the conference in points (17.8), assists (4.3) and steals per game (3.7), with her steals per game and 122 steals overall steals pacing the nation.
Sajada Bonner joined Pryor on the Preseason All-NEC Team after finishing last year as SHU's leading 3-point scorer with 60 treys while being second in scoring at 10.7 points per game. The Pios also return their third and fourth leading scorers in Amelia Wood (7.7) and Olivia Tucker (7.1), two of five Pioneers to appear in all 33 games.
In addition to its stellar returning class, Sacred Heart boasts a promising list of incoming players. Leading this group is sophomore transfer Faith Pappas, who played her rookie season at Fordham. First years Thai Davis, Nalyce Dudley, Emma Kirby and Montana Nicks should also add depth to the Pioneers' deep roster.
In addition to the last year's success on the court, Sacred Heart's 2023-24 roster made history before even stepping on the court. This season marks the Pioneers' 50th as a program, with the team starting in 1974-75.
The 50th season of Sacred Heart women's basketball will begin on Tuesday, Nov. 7, with a 6 p.m. tilt road against Atlantic 10 semifinalist Rhode Island at the Thomas M. Ryan Center.
The 2022-23 Pioneers reached heights that no other Northeast Conference (NEC) program had ever been able to reach. After going on the road to beat top seeded FDU in the NEC Championship Game, SHU became the first NEC basketball team to win an NCAA Tournament game by defeating Southern in the NCAA First Four.
After reaching new levels of success, teams typically see roster turnover the following season. That is not a problem the Pioneers will encounter in 2023-24, as the team returns all six of its top minute earners from a season ago. This stability led to SHU being named preseason NEC favorites.
"We were honored to be picked first," Head Coach Jessica Mannetti talking about being named the NEC preseason favorites. "It shows that the hard work that the team put into creating a great opportunity to be successful has paid off. Again, the preseason poll is just the preseason poll. No one has one a game yet. We are going to keep the focus, just like we have done in the past, at getting better everyday, putting our best effort on the floor, and staying connected to ensure success."
Leading this group is star sophomore Ny'Ceara Pryor, who made history last season as the first NEC player to win Player, Defensive and Rookie of the Year in the same season. A 2023-24 Preseason All-NEC Team honoree, Pryor led the conference in points (17.8), assists (4.3) and steals per game (3.7), with her steals per game and 122 steals overall steals pacing the nation.
Sajada Bonner joined Pryor on the Preseason All-NEC Team after finishing last year as SHU's leading 3-point scorer with 60 treys while being second in scoring at 10.7 points per game. The Pios also return their third and fourth leading scorers in Amelia Wood (7.7) and Olivia Tucker (7.1), two of five Pioneers to appear in all 33 games.
In addition to its stellar returning class, Sacred Heart boasts a promising list of incoming players. Leading this group is sophomore transfer Faith Pappas, who played her rookie season at Fordham. First years Thai Davis, Nalyce Dudley, Emma Kirby and Montana Nicks should also add depth to the Pioneers' deep roster.
In addition to the last year's success on the court, Sacred Heart's 2023-24 roster made history before even stepping on the court. This season marks the Pioneers' 50th as a program, with the team starting in 1974-75.
The 50th season of Sacred Heart women's basketball will begin on Tuesday, Nov. 7, with a 6 p.m. tilt road against Atlantic 10 semifinalist Rhode Island at the Thomas M. Ryan Center.
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