GAME DAY INFORMATION |
DATE: December 21, 2025
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LOCATION: Pitt Center | Fairfield, CT |
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GAME DAY LINKS |
LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO |
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THE LEAD
All that stands between the Pioneers and the holiday break is a single home game as Sacred Heart welcomes the Rider Broncs to the Pitt Center for a Sunday afternoon matinee. The Pioneers will look to open MAAC play 2-0 for the first time while handing the Broncs their second loss in as many league games. Tip-off from the Pitt Center is set for 2:00 p.m. with all of the action available on ESPN+.
SCOUTING SACRED HEART
After closing out its non-conference schedule with a 2-7 record, the Pioneers are looking to open MAAC play 2-0 for the first time after a hard-fought overtime victory on the road at Iona on Friday night. Leading the Pioneers is senior guard Amelia Wood who has scored double figures in eight of the 10 games this season, including a pair of 20+ games highlighted by the last game against Iona where she finished with 21 points and surpassed the 1,000-point plateau in the process. For the season she is one of two players to average double figures at 13.3 ppg. Additionally, Wood is second on the team in rebounding with a 5.9 per game average and assists with 17 and leads the team with 21 steals and eight blocks. After increasing her career-high in scoring to 20 last time out at Iona, junior forward Nalyce Dudley saw her season average cross into double figures with an average of 10.5 ppg while shooting at a team-high 48 percent (40-of-82) with that average increased to 58.6 percent when shooting from inside the arc. As a team, the Pioneers are shooting 35.1 percent from the field (183-of-521) with 37 of the 183 baskets from outside the arc. Despite a season low 13 turnovers against UAlbany, the biggest area of improvement for the Pioneers needs to come in ball control as they are currently turning the ball over at a clip of 19.4 turnovers per game.
SCOUTING RIDER
Looking for their first MAAC win of the season, Rider enters Sunday afternoon with a 2-8 overall record following an 84-58 loss to conference favorite Fairfield on Friday. The loss was the third-straight for the Broncs who also suffered a five-game skid earlier this season. Averaging 54.1 points per game, Rider is led by graduate forward Kristina Okofo who is one of two players averaging double figures at 12.7 ppg. She also leads the team with a .438 field goal percentage (53-121) and is third on the team with 5.7 rebounds per game. Junior guard Aliya McIver follows her in the scoring column with a 10.3 ppg average while leading the team in rebounding, assists and steals with 6.3 rebounds per contest, 30 assists and 20 steals. As a team, the Broncs are shooting at a 37.3 percent clip (213-of-571), including 64 three pointers.
SERIES HISTORY vs RIDER
·      Friday's game will be the fourth meeting between the Pioneers and Broncs in a series that dates back to the 2004-05 season.
·      The first two meetings came as part of a home-and-home series in 2004-05 and 2005-06 with each team winning on its home court.
·      SHU took the opening meeting in 04-05 in Fairfield by a 71-57 margin.
·      Last season marked the first time the two had met in conference play with Rider taking the first league decision by a 72-57 final.
NEXT TIME OUT
The Pioneers will hit the hardwood once more before the end of the calendar year when they travel to Poughkeepsie, NY for a date with the Marist Red Foxes just prior to New Year's Eve on Monday, December 29. Tip-off in the MAAC battle is set for 2:00 p.m. with all of the action available live on ESPN+.
