Fairfield, Conn. – In front of a loud contingent of local elementary students, the Sacred Heart women's basketball battled to the buzzer, falling to the visiting University at Albany Great Danes 60-57 on Wednesday.

Leading the Pioneers on the day was junior forward Nalyce Dudley who closed out 30 minutes of action with a career-high 19 points, connecting on 9-of-12 from the field, including a three pointer. Overall, she was one of two players in double figures, joined by Amelia Wood who finished with 14. Wood also pulled down six boards, dished out three assists and picked of three steals.

First-year guard Sophie Nascimento closed out her second start of the season with nine points, while junior Missy Nuku made her debut in the starting lineup and chipped in with five points and a team-high four steals.

RECORDS
Sacred Heart: 2-5
UAlbany: 7-2

TOP PERFORMERS
Nalyce Dudley: 19 points, 9-12 FG
Amelia Wood: 14 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals
Sophie Nascimento: 9 points, 4-4 FT, 3 rebounds, 2 assists
Emma Kirby: 7 points, 7 rebounds

FIRST QUARTER NOTES

·       The Pioneers came out of the gates strong forcing five early UAlbany turnovers and opening up to a 3-0 lead on a pair of trips to the free throw line.

·       SHU would maintain that lead until the last seconds of the quarter when four free throws for Delanie Hill flipped the score for the first of three lead changes on the day.

·       After holding the Great Danes to just two field goals in the first six-plus minutes, the second of which knotted the game at five, the Pioneers rattled off six-straight to take an 11-5 lead.

·       Nascimento and Dudley would combine for the scoring in that run with Dudley ending it with back-to-back buckets, the second of which came on a fast break with Wood providing the defense on the other side.

SECOND QUARTER NOTES

·       Coming out of the first intermission, the Pioneers didn't let up on defense, this time holding the Great Danes to just one basket in the first six-plus minutes.

·       While the defense was working on all cylinders so was the offense as the Pios opened up the quarter with a 13-2 run to take their largest lead of the game, 24-14.

·       This time around it was Wood that capped off the first part of that run with back-to-back baskets, the second of which she turned into a three-point play.

·       Dudley would then end the second part of that rally with another set of back-to-back layups pushing her over the double figure mark in the scoring column.  

·       Dudley would add three more on the first long range basket of the game for the Pioneers, this one answering back-to-back three's from UAlbany as they chipped away at the Pios lead.

·       UAlbany would manage to tie the game at 29 to end the quarter, scoring the final five points as Sacred Heart came up empty on its final possession of the half.

THIRD QUARTER NOTES

·       UAlbany kept its momentum from the end of the first half as they came out of the locker room connecting from outside the arc once again, including three from long range in the first five minutes.

·       That early success led to a 40-30 lead for the Great Danes Wood breaking up what was an 8-0 run for UAlbany with a drive through the lane for two.

·       The Great Danes extended their lead to its largest of the game at 12, 46-34 before the Pioneers used a 5-0 run to cut into that deficit.

·       Nascimento would connect from outside before Kirby drove to the hoop for a pair. The Great Danes would close out the quarter with the final basket, taking a 48-37 lead into the final intermission.

FOURTH QUARTER NOTES

·       Sacred Heart came out of the final quarter break with a renewed fire, scoring seven of the first nine points to pull within five in just under four minutes of action.

·       UAlbany tried to turn the momentum as Hill hit another three pointer, but the Pioneers would not be deterred.

·       Sierra Johnson answered that Hill three with one of her own before Emma Kirby cut it to a two-point game scoring under the hoop after her defense forced a jump ball turnover on the Great Danes.

·       Dudley would make it a one-point game with 54 seconds remaining when she connected for her new career-high 19th point of the afternoon, however UAlbany responded with a three pointer to extend their lead to 58-54.

·       Trailing by six with under 30 seconds remaining, Missy Nuku came up clutch with a three pointer with 10.8 ticks on the clock.

·       After the Great Danes converted the first of two at the line, Sacred Heart would need to go the length of the court in 9.6 seconds. Nuku would have a look at the basket with a shot just over the half court line that fell off the front of the rim as time expired.

UP NEXT
With two games left in its non-conference schedule, Sacred Heart heads on the road for a single game over the weekend when they travel to Baltimore, Md. for a date with the Coppin State Eagles from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. The penultimate game in the Pioneers non-conference slate is set for 2:00 p.m. tip on Saturday, December 6 with all of the action available live on ESPN+.