Poughkeepsie, N.Y. – It would come down to the buzzer for the third time in as many games, this time with the Pioneers coming up short as the three point attempt from the corner from Amelia Wood circled the rim before falling off the front as the horn sounded.

Leading the way for Sacred Heart was junior post Emma Kirby who finished with her first double double of the season, the fourth of her career, compiling 16 points and 14 rebounds, the latter of which was a career-high. Kirby finished the game shooting 6-of-8 from the field and 4-of-5 at the free throw line while also adding a pair of assists and a block.

Kirby was one of three Pioneers in double figures, joined by senior Amelia Wood with 14 points and Nalyce Dudley who followed with 11. Missy Nuku came off the bench to add eight points for Sacred Heart.

As a team, SHU finished the game shooting 19-of-43 from the field for a 44.2 percent effort, with three of the 19 baskets from outside the three point arc, all of which came from Wood. Sacred Heart also finished 14-of-17 at the free throw line.

RECORDS
Sacred Heart: 4-8, 2-1 MAAC
Marist: 4-9, 1-2 MAAC

TOP PERFORMERS
Emma Kirby: 16 points, 14 Rebounds, 2 assists
Amelia Wood: 14 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists
Nalyce Dudley: 11 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists
Missy Nuku: 8 points, 3 assists

FIRST QUARTER NOTES

·       Wood came out of the gate with her eyes on the hoop, scoring the first bucket, a three pointer just nine seconds into the action, and adding another three 100 seconds later to give SHU an 8-2 lead.

·       Wood and Kirby would combine for the first 13 Sacred Heart points. In addition to the pair of three's from Wood, Kirby added three buckets, including a hoop-and-harm all leading to a 13-11 lead at the first media timeout.

·       Coming out of that timeout, Marist began an 11-3 run to that their first lead of the game and extend it to as much as 23-16.

·       Nuku had the final word in the half with a pair from the line with a three pointer off the mark for Marist and a halfcourt heave the Pioneers final attempt of the quarter.

SECOND QUARTER NOTES

·       The two squads would trade a pair of baskets each to open up the second quarter with SHU able to pull within five over that stretch.

·       After the second Pioneer basket during that time, the Red Foxes defense kicked up and held SHU scoreless over the next three minutes, while scoring seven unanswered to push their advantage into double figures at 35-22.

·       Sacred Heart regrouped and scored the basket before the media timeout and added four more points, closing out the opening half on a 6-0 rally to trail by seven going into the halftime break.

·       Leading the way for SHU was Kirby who finished the first 20 minutes with 11 points and eight rebounds, going a perfect 4-of-4 from the field and 3-of-3 at the line.

THIRD QUARTER NOTES

·       Back to its starting five, the Pioneers came out of the halftime break with defense in mind, holding the Red Foxes to just one field goal in the first 5:30 of the quarter.

·       During that stretch, the SHU was able to muster together a 10-2 rally that amounted to a Sacred Heart lead, 38-37, with 4:17 remaining.

·       The last of those 10 points came as eight unanswered with the last two coming after the media timeout as Dudley scored off a pass from Nuku for the one point lead.

·       Coming down the stretch in the third, both teams would score their final three points at the free throw line, with the Pioneers three knotting the game at 42, while the Red Foxes took a 42-45 lead into the final intermission.

FOURTH QUARTER NOTES

·       Coming out of that final break, the Pioneers again opened up with a rally, scoring three-straight baskets, one each from Nuku, Dudley and Kirby that all led to a 48-45 lead with under two minutes having come off the clock.

·       The Red Foxes answered with back-to-back baskets of their own, before Dudley struck again to knot the game at 50.

·       Heading into the final minute with a one-point game, the Red Foxes pulled ahead by three with a layup as 24.1 seconds remaining on the clock.

·       After calling for time to advance the ball, the Pioneers relied on the long ball as Wood hit her third of the game from outside the arc, straight away, to knot the game at 55 with 7.5 seconds remaining.

·       After a pair at the line for Marist, Sacred Heart would have a shot at the buzzer with another three from Wood in the corner circling the rim before falling off the front as the horn sounded.

UP NEXT
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+.