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FAIRFIELD, Conn.— The Sacred Heart University women's basketball team continues its tournament run in the Northeast Conference semifinals against Merrimack at the Pitt Center on Thursday. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. on ESPN3/SNY with Paul Dottino and Pam Roecker on the call.
 
OPENING TIP

• Sacred Heart is back in the NEC Semifinals for the first time since 2019. The Pioneers look to advance to the championship for the first time since 2016.
• SHU faces Merrimack for the first time ever in the postseason and 12th meeting overall. The Pioneers were swept by the Warriors during the regular season.
• SHU won its quarterfinals contest against LIU, 63-44, on Monday. Ny'Ceara Pryor led with 21 points, her 13th 20+ point performance of the season. Sajada Bonner finished with 18 while Olivia Tucker notched 17.
• The Pioneers lead the NEC in offensive rebounds with 12.9 per game and are second in combined rebounds with 37.4 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 (117). She is the leader in the conference in scoring (18.0) and has tallied 20+ points in 13 games.
• Sajada Bonner was named to Second Team All-NEC. She leads the Pioneers and is second in the NEC with 57 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 7.3 points and a second team-leading 5.6 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 semifinals since 2019.
• SHU finished in NEC play in the top three for the 19th time in program history.
• SHU is 22-24 all-time in postseason. In their history, the Pioneers have 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).
• SHU and Merrimack face each other in the NEC tournament for the first time ever.
• The Pioneers are 18-8 when playing postseason contests at the Pitt Center.