Fairfield, Conn. – Sophomore Esther Kursite came off the bench to match her career-high with 11 points, going a perfect 5-of-5 from the field, to lead the Sacred Heart women's basketball team as they dropped a 64-51 decision in their season opener versus NJIT.

Overall, Kursite was one of two players in double figures as senior guard Amelia Wood led all Pioneer scorers with 16 points while adding seven rebounds. Junior center Emma Kirby followed the pair of leading scorers with eight points while leading the Pioneers with nine rebounds.

As a team, Sacred Heart finished the game shooting 31.3 percent from the field, connecting on 20-of-64 attempts, which included three baskets from outside the three point arc. The Pioneers did win the battle of the boards with a 46-43 margin, while also leading in second chance points where they turned 18 offensive boards into 12 points, compared to just four points for the Highlanders.

RECORDS
Sacred Heart: 0-1
NJIT: 1-0

TOP PERFORMERS
Amelia Wood: 16 points, 7 rebounds
Esther Kursite: 11 points, 5-5 FG
Emma Kirby: 8 points, 9 rebounds

FIRST QUARTER NOTES

·       Slow start for both teams out of the gates with the first two Pioneer points coming at the free throw line thanks to Wood. It would take nearly four minutes before the first home bucket of the season fell for SHU with Nalyce Dudley driving to the hoop for a pair.

·       Sacred Heart took its first lead of the game, 8-6, following back-to-back buckets from Dudley and Kursite, with Kursite's coming on her first possession in the game.

·       NJIT answered with a 9-0 run to regain the lead and extend it to seven, 15-8, before the Pioneers shut down the momentum with another set of back-to-back buckets, including the first three pointer of the game for Sacred Heart off the fingertips of Wood.

SECOND QUARTER NOTES

·       The Pioneers came out of the first intermission to score the first three points and cut the NJIT lead down to a single point, before eventually tying the game at 20 with back-to-back buckets from Wood and Kirby.

·       Overall, Sacred Heart opened up the second quarter scoring seven of the first nine points.

·       NJIT came out of the media timeout and extended its lead to double figures for the first time using a 9-0 run to take a 33-23 advantage.

·       The Pioneers would have the final word in the first half with Wood connecting on a driving layup with 41 seconds remaining.  

THIRD QUARTER NOTES

·       The Pioneers again opened up the third quarter with an advantage, scoring seven of the first 11 points to cut their deficit to five, 37-32. Following back-to-back buckets from Wood, the first from long range, the Highlanders were forced to call a timeout less than two minutes into the action.

·       Out of that timeout, NJIT rattled off the next five points to regain a double figure lead at 42-32.

·       After trading the next handful of baskets, the Highlanders closed out the third quarter scoring the final 11 points of the frame to take a 58-37 lead into the final 10 minutes.

FOURTH QUARTER NOTES

·       The Pioneers defense was on its game in the final quarter, holding the Highlanders without a field goal until 1:13 remained in the period with that bucket coming on a steal in the backcourt.

·       Despite that defensive stand, the Pioneers were only able to score six unanswered points to open the quarter and were able to pull as close as 13 following back-to-back layups from freshman Jordanna Schrecker and Kursite.

UP NEXT
The Pioneers will take the remainder of the week to prepare for their longest trip of the season as they head to Ames, Iowa to face a top-20 team in Iowa State. Tip-off against the No. 14/17 Cyclones is set for 2:00 p.m. (EST) on Sunday, November 9 at Hilton Coliseum.