FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Sacred Heart University women's basketball team put together a thrilling fourth-quarter comeback attempt against Marist on Thursday evening but suffered a 68-61 loss to the Red Foxes at the McCann Arena in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. 

For the ninth time this year, Ny'Ceara Pryor tallied 20+ points with 25 against the Red Foxes, which led all scorers. The star junior also added three rebounds, three assists, four steals and a block. Emma Kirby was next on the Pioneers with 13 points and 11 rebounds for her second double-double of the season. Kirby's 11 boards tied a career-high for the sophomore, as she reached that mark in back-to-back games. 

Nalyce Dudley also crossed double figures, putting up 11 points and four rebounds. Amelia Wood chipped in seven points, four rebounds, three assists and two blocks in 33 minutes. 

Records: 
Sacred Heart: 7-19, 3-14 MAAC
Marist: 15-12, 10-7 MAAC
 
Leaders: 
Ny'Ceara Pryor: 25 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 steals, 1 block
Emma Kirby: 13 points, 11 rebounds, 2 blocks

Of Note: 
The Red Foxes got the better of the Pioneers to start tonight's game, as they stormed out to a 9-3 lead after the opening 3:24. A Kirby jumper preceded a 2:52 scoreless draught by both teams before Marist rebuilt its six-point advantage, 11-6, at 3:44. The Red Foxes were up as much as 10 in the first, 11-21, but the Pios scored four of the final six points, the last being a Wood layup with no time remaining, to go into the second down 23-15. 

Sacred Heart got off to a stellar start in the second, trimming the margin to two with a 12-6 run at the beginning of the frame. Kirby started the period with a three-point play, while Pryor's pull-up at 6:17 set the deficit at 29-27. Unfortunately for SHU, the Red Foxes warmed back up over the final 6:17, outscoring the Pios by a 10-4 margin to set the deficit back at eight, 39-31. 

The third quarter was tightly contested as the Red Foxes took the frame by a 20-16 margin. Marist led by as much as 15 in the third, but a Kirby layup with 1:01 remaining set the score at 59-47 heading into the fourth. 

After the Red Foxes scored the first three points of the fourth, SHU put together a furious 10-0 run to get within five points, 62-57. Wood, Pryor and Dudley were all fouled on made buckets in the surge, with Dudley's and-one at 7:20 capping the run. 

SHU got as close as five points, 66-61, again at 4:08, following back-to-back baskets from Kirby and Wood. Unfortunately for the Pioneers, the two teams combined for two points over the last 4:08, as the Red Foxes held on to earn the home win. 

Up Next:
The Pioneers make the short trip to play Fairfield for their final road game of the season on Saturday, Mar. 1, for a 7 p.m. tilt.