GAME DAY INFORMATION |
DATE: December 29, 2025
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LOCATION: McCann Arena | Poughkeepsie, NY |
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GAME DAY LINKS |
LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO |
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THE LEAD
Just one more game and the Pioneers will have closed out the 2025 portion of their schedule and that last contest comes on the road in Poughkeepsie as Sacred Heart takes on Marist on Monday afternoon. Tip-off from McCann Arena 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 reset and have opened MAAC play 2-0 for the first time with a road win over Iona and a home win over Rider. Leading the Pioneers is senior guard Amelia Wood who has scored double figures in nine of the 11 games this season, including back-to-back 21-point games to open up conference play. Included in the first of those 21-point games was her 1,000th career point. For the season she is one of two players to average double figures at 14.0 ppg. Additionally, Wood is second on the team in rebounding with a 5.6 per game average and assists with 19 and leads the team with 24 steals and eight blocks. After increasing her career-high in scoring to 20 in the MAAC opening win over Iona, junior forward Nalyce Dudley saw her season average cross into double figures with an average of 10.8 ppg while shooting at a team-high 49 percent (46-of-94) with that average increased to 56.7 percent when shooting from inside the arc. As a team, the Pioneers are shooting 35.3 percent from the field (205-of-581) with 42 of the 205 baskets from outside the arc. Despite a season low 12 turnovers last time out against Rider, 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 18.7 turnovers per game.
SCOUTING MARIST
Looking for their first MAAC win of the season, Marist enters the final game of 2025 with a 3-9 overall record following league losses to Mount St. Mary's and Quinnipiac. The loss was the third-straight for the Red Foxes who also suffered two other three-game skids earlier this season. Averaging 59.4 points per game, Marist is led by freshman guard/forward Justine Henry who is one of two players averaging double figures at 12.8 ppg. She also leads the team with 7.2 rebounds per game and 18 steals. Redshirt senior guard Lexie Tarul follows her in the scoring column with a 12.0 ppg average while second on the team in rebounding with 5.3 rebounds per contest. As a team, the Red Foxes are shooting at a 35.8 percent clip (247-of-689), including 89 three pointers.
SERIES HISTORY vs MARIST
·      Sacred Heart and Marist meet for just the second time in the history of the two programs
·      The first meeting came last season in the Pioneers inaugural campaign in the MAAC with Marist earning the 68-61 victory.
NEXT TIME OUT
After ringing in the New Year, the Pioneers will return to the hardwood to open up their 2026 schedule on New Year's Day with a visit from the Niagara Purple Eagles, the first of two games in the first 62 hours of the New Year. Tip-off in the New Year's Day MAAC battle is set for 2:00 p.m. with all of the action available live on ESPN+.
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