FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Sajada Bonner crossed the 1,000-point mark in her collegiate career on Sunday afternoon as the Sacred Heart University women's basketball team cruised to a 73-41 home victory over Mercy in its final non-conference game of the 2023-24 campaign. 

Bonner hit a layup with 2:16 remaining in the third quarter to give her 1,001 points in her collegiate career. The graduate guard has scored 487 points in her two seasons as a Pioneer after playing her first three collegiate seasons at Quinnipiac. 

Ny'Ceara Pryor, Nalyce Dudley and Olivia Tucker each crossed double figures against the Mustangs, with Pryor leading the way with 13. Pryor also tallied six rebounds, six assists, four steals and two blocks in an outstanding showing. Dudley added 12 points, while Tucker poured in 10 in her first game in over a month. 

Records:
Sacred Heart: 6-8
Mercy: 7-6
 
Top Performers:
Ny'Ceara Pryor: 13 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, 4 steals, 2 blocks
Nalyce Dudley: 12 points, 4 rebounds, 1 steal
Olivia Tucker: 10 points, 2 assists, 2 blocks, 1 steal

How It Happened:
The Pioneers burst out of the gates to start this afternoon's game, taking a double-digit lead, 14-4, 6:58 into the contest. Pryor scored four points over the early run, while Faith Pappas capped the surge with two of her career-best eight points. Five straight by the Mavericks cut into the advantage, but a Dudley jumper sent SHU into the second up 16-9. 

The second quarter was a defensive showcase by Sacred Heart, as the Pioneers held Mercy to just seven points, all of which came at the free throw line. Tucker led the way with eight of her 10 points in the second, hitting twice from three in the stanza. After winning the quarter 22-7, the Pios held a 38-16 lead at halftime. 

SHU continued to push the momentum in the second half, never letting the lead dip below 24. The Pioneers' advantage grew to as high as 37 in the fourth quarter on their way to a 73-41 home victory. 

The Pioneers were clicking on both sides of the ball Sunday, with the defense holding Mercy to a season-low .271 field goal percentage (13-for-48). On offense, SHU went 32-for-63 (.508) from the field, the team's second-best mark of the season. Sacred Heart also hit seven 3-pointers, tied for its second-best mark of the year. 

Up Next:
The Pioneers kick off 2024 with their Northeast Conference (NEC) opener against Merrimack on Saturday, Jan. 6, at 2 p.m. at the Pitt Center.