NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y.. – The Sacred Heart University women's basketball team saw its fourth-quarter rally come up just short in a 60-50 road loss at defending MAAC Champs Iona on Sunday afternoon in New Rochelle, N.Y. 

Sophomore standout Ny'Ceara Pryor led the way for the Pioneers, finishing with 16 points and a game-high 11 rebounds for her second double-double of the season. She also dished out six assists and had two steals to cap a stellar outing. Nalyce Dudley was SHU's next leading scorer with 11 points, her third straight double-digit scoring effort. Sierra Johnson also finished with a strong stat line with six points and a season-high eight boards. 

Records:
Sacred Heart: 5-6
Iona: 5-3
 
Top Performers:
Ny'Ceara Pryor: 16 points, 11 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals
Nalyce Dudley: 11 points, 3 rebounds
Sierra Johnson: 6 points, 8 rebounds

How It Happened:
After a sluggish start to the first quarter, where SHU missed its first seven shots, the Pioneers bounced back, finishing the frame on a 13-2 run to take a 13-12 lead into the second. Pryor led the surge with five points on a 3-pointer and a mid-range jumper, while Amelia Wood and Faith Pappas both sank triples. 

The second quarter started with the two teams trading the lead multiple times. Back-to-back Emma Kirby buckets highlighted SHU's early play in the frame, as the second one gave the Pios a 17-15 advantage. Unfortunately for Sacred Heart, the Gaels answered with a 9-0 run to go up seven, 24-17. The Pioneers got as close as four for the rest of the quarter, but a 3-pointer in the final minute put Iona up 27-20 at the halftime break. 

The Gaels began to catch fire from behind the arc in the third quarter, hitting three triples in the first 2:58 of the frame to get out to a 36-22 advantage. The Pioneers cut the deficit to as low as 11 twice for the remainder of the quarter but went into the fourth trailing 50-36. 

Following a three by the Gaels to start the fourth, Sacred Heart answered with a 9-0 run to draw the margin under double-figures, 53-45, with 3:57 left in the game. Dudley led the charge with four points, while Pappas hit her second trey of the game. Sacred Heart's defense shined over the 9-0 run, as SHU held the Gaels scoreless for 6:05. Unfortunately for the Pioneers, four straight points by Iona halted the surge and stopped SHU's comeback attempt. 

Up Next:
Sacred Heart remains on the road to play Providence on Saturday, Dec. 16. The opening tip for the non-conference bout is slated for 5 p.m. at the Friars' Alumni Hall in Providence, R.I.