FAIRFIELD, Conn.— For the first time since 2016, the Sacred Heart University women's basketball team is back in the Northeast Conference title game. The No. 2 Pioneers travel to Hackensack, N.J. to take on No. 1 FDU on Sunday. Tipoff is set for 12 p.m. on ESPNU with Roy Philpott and Brooke Weisbrod on the call.
OPENING TIP
- Sacred Heart is back in the NEC championship for the first time since 2016. The Pioneers look for their first league title since 2012.
- The Pioneers and Knights met in the quarterfinals of the NEC tournament in 2022. FDU came out with the 66-58 victory.
- SHU took down LIU, 63-44, in the quarterfinals and notched a victory over Merrimack 68-61 in the semifinals.
- The Pioneers lead the NEC in offensive rebounds with 13.0 per game and are second in combined rebounds with 37.5 per game.
- Pryor became the first rookie in NEC history to earn Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year in the same season. In addition, she was selected to First Team All-NEC and All-Rookie Team. Pryor is the leader in the nation in steals per game (4.0) and steals overall (119). She is the leader in the conference in scoring (18.1) and has tallied 20+ points in 14 games.
- Sajada Bonner was named to Second Team All-NEC. She leads the Pioneers and is second in the NEC with 59 three-pointers made. The graduate student notched a career-high six triples against SFBK.
- Amelia Wood earned a spot on the NEC All-Rookie Team. She is coming off the bench averaging 7.5 points and a second team-leading 5.5 rebounds per game.
POSTSEASON HISTORY
- Sacred Heart has qualified for the NEC Tournament in 23 of the last 24 seasons since joining the conference in 1999.
- The Pioneers are playing in their first NEC championship since 2016.
- SHU finished in NEC play in the top three for the 19th time in program history.
- The Pioneers are 23-24 all-time in postseason. In their history, SHU has won three NEC titles (2006, 2009, 2012) and made three appearances in the NCAA Tournament (2006, 2009, 2012) and three in the WNIT Tournament (2013, 2016, 2017).
- Last season, SHU and FDU played against each other in the quarterfinals of the NEC tournament. The Knights came out with the 66-58 victory over the Pioneers.
