FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Sacred Heart University women's basketball team kicks off the New Year with a road clash at Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) foe Canisius on Saturday, Jan. 4, at 1 p.m. at the Golden Griffins' Koessler Athletic Center. 

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OPENING TIP

• Sacred Heart kicks off 2025 with a long trip to Buffalo, N.Y. to play the Golden Griffins of Canisius on Saturday, Jan. 4, at 1 p.m. at the Koessler Athletic Center. 
• The Pioneers and Griffs will meet for the first time ever on Saturday, as Canisius is one of five teams SHU will play for the first time this season. 
• The Pios ended the 2024 portion of their schedule with a hard-fought 78-63 loss to MAAC-leading Quinnipiac on Saturday, Dec. 21. 
• SHU trailed by two, 17-15, after a thrilling first quarter, but a strong second by the Bobcats proved to be enough for the road team. 
• However, Sacred Heart did not go down without a fight, as it won the fourth quarter 20-16 and matched QU in the second half 36-36. 
• Amelia Wood and Ny'Ceara Pryor led the way for the Pioneers against the Bobcats, as the duo combined for 39 points. 
• Wood paced the team with a season-best 20 points, adding five rebounds, two assists and two steals while shooting a perfect 8-for-8 from the free throw line. 
• Pryor contributed one of her patented all-around efforts with 19 points, seven rebounds, three assists and two steals.

LAST TIME OUT
The Pioneers last fell to MAAC-leading Quinnipiac, who is 10-1 overall this season, in their final game of 2024 on Saturday, Dec. 21. The Bobcats took a 78-63 win at the Pitt Center after shooting 52.9% from the floor. SHU trailed by two, 17-15, following an exciting first quarter, but a strong second by QU gave it a 42-27 lead at the half. The Pios tied the Bobcats in the second half with 36 points but were still resigned to take the home setback. Amelia Wood and Ny'Ceara Pryor commanded the Sacred Heart offense with 20 and 19 points, respectively. Wood went a career-best 8-for-8 from the free throw line and added five rebounds, two assists and two steals to her stellar stat line. Pryor was all over the court for the Pios, chipping in seven rebounds, three assists and two steals in her 33 minutes. 

AWESOME AMELIA
Wood tallied one of her best games of the season against the Bobcats, scoring a season-high 20 points. She hit a pair of 3-pointers in the contest and went a perfect 8-for-8 at the free throw line, both her free throw attempts and makes are new career highs for the junior. Saturday's contest marked Wood's fourth 20-point performance, her first since putting up 23 at FDU last season on Jan. 27.

SCOUTING CANISIUS

• The Golden Griffins have struggled to find their stride this season, as they head into the New Year with a 1-11 overall record and a 0-2 mark in the MAAC. 
• Canisius' lone win of the season came against NEC foe Saint Francis (Pa.) by two points, 48-46, at the Red Flash's Maurice Stokes Center in Loretto, Pa.
• The Griffs opened the MAAC slate with road losses to Merrimack (62-47) and Siena (67-61). 
• Canisius has seen a balanced effort on offense, as three players average 8+ points on the season. 
• Graduate guard Jaela Johnson leads the team with 8.8 points and 3.5 assists per game. 
• She is also fourth in the MAAC with 1.83 steals per game. 
• Junior guard Franka Wittenberg is second on the Griffs with 8.5 points per game, putting up a season-high 17 at Siena. 
• Sophomore forward Shariah Gailes is third on the team with 8.0 points per game while also leading the team and ranking third in the MAAC with 7.8 rebounds per game.

SERIES HISTORY

• Saturday will mark the first-ever meeting between the Pioneers and Golden Griffins.
• Canisius is one of five teams SHU will play for the first time this season, joining Post, Coppin State and new MAAC foes Marist and Niagara.