GAME DAY INFORMATION |
DATE: November 13, 2025
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LOCATION: Detrick Gymnasium
New Britain, CT |
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GAME DAY LINKS |
LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO |
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THE LEAD
One team will come away with their first win of the season on Thursday night as the Pioneers head north on I-91 to take on a former conference foe in Central Connecticut. The game serves as the first home game of the season for the Blue Devils who are under first-year head coach Kristen Caruso.
SCOUTING SACRED HEART
The Pioneers enter Thursday night in search of their first win of the season against a team that they own a commanding lead (42-20) in an all-time series that dates back 45 years. Through its first two games of the season, Sacred Heart is led by its leading returning scorer Amelia Wood who is the lone Pioneer averaging in double figures at 11.0 ppg. She is also tied for the team lead in rebounding at 5.5 rpg, joined by junior Emma Kirby. Sophomore Esther Kursite is currently the leading Pioneer off the bench after opening up her second season tying her career-high with 11 points against NJIT. She currently leads the team from the field where she is shooting 5-of-7 (.714). The Pioneers will need to take better control of the ball after suffering 25 turnovers in their last game at Iowa State, a number the Cyclones turned into 33 points.
SCOUTING CENTRAL CONNECTICUT
Despite also searching for its first win of the young season, Central Connecticut can look towards their defense holding the Big East's Providence Friars to just 65 points last time out as a minor victory for the Blue Devils. CCSU is currently led by senior post Lucia Noin who is averaging 12.0 ppg, including opening up her season with 18 points on the road at Bryant. Noin's double digit average comes after closing out last season at just 5.5 ppg. As a team, CCSU is being outrebounded by a 13.5 per game average with Noin also leading the team in that category pulling down 7.0 rebounds per contest.
SERIES HISTORY vs CCSU
·      Former conference foes in the NEC, Sacred Heart and Central Connecticut meet for the 63rd time in the history of the two programs.
·      The Pioneers own a commanding 42-20 lead in the all-time series which dates back to the 1979-80 season.
·      The Pioneers are riding a three-game win streak into tonight's game, including the most recent game which also came at Detrick Gymnasium and concluded with a 73-55 final edge.
·      The most recent CCSU win came in the first of two meetings in February 2023 with the Blue Devils winning 79-64, also at Detrick Gym.
·      Take the current win streak one step further and Sacred Heart has won 11 of the last 12 meetings, with an eight-game win streak prior to that 2023 CCSU victory.
·      Under 13th year head coach Jessica Mannetti, the Pioneers hold a 15-7 record against the Blue Devils.
NEXT TIME OUT
Continuing a stretch of four-straight road games, Sacred Heart heads south to Washington, D.C. to take on the Big East's Georgetown Hoyas. Tip-off in what will be the first of four-straight home games for the Hoyas is set for 7:00 p.m. tip from McDonough Arena with all of the action available live on ESPN+.
