GAME DAY INFORMATION |
DATE: January 17, 2026
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LOCATION: Alumni Gymnasium | Lawrenceville, NJ |
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GAME DAY LINKS |
LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO |
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THE LEAD
For the first time in 2026, the Pioneers will spend a night on the road as they travel to southern Jersey for a rematch with the Rider Broncs, one of eight teams Sacred Heart will play in a home-and-home MAAC series. The Pioneers look to sweep the series after taking a slim two-point (61-59) win in Fairfield back on December 21. Tip off from Alumni Gymnasium is set for 2:00 p.m. with all of the action in the MAAC contest available live on ESPN+.
SCOUTING SACRED HEART
After closing out their non-conference schedule with a 2-7 record, the Pioneers reset and stand at 5-2 in MAAC play. Leading the Pioneers is senior guard Amelia Wood who has scored double figures in the last 11 games and 14 of the 16 games this season. For the season she is one of two players to average double figures at 15.1 ppg. Additionally, Wood is second on the team in rebounding with a 6.3 per game average and leads the team with 35 assists, 39 steals and 12 blocks. After increasing her career-high in scoring to 21 in the New Year's Day win over Niagara, junior forward Nalyce Dudley is second in scoring average at 12.0 ppg while shooting at a team-high 49.0 percent (74-of-151) with that average increased to 56.6 percent when shooting from inside the arc. Freshman point guard Sophie Nascimento has also been a big factor to the success of late with her 9.9 per game scoring average in MAAC games, while she is averaging 16 points over the last three games. As a team, the Pioneers are shooting 39.7 percent from the field (328-of-826) with 65 of the 328 baskets from outside the arc. Despite a season low 11 turnovers last time 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 18.8 turnovers per game.
SCOUTING RIDER
Despite picking up their first MAAC win of the season on January 8 against Siena, Rider has lost eight of its last nine games and stands at 1-6 in league action. Averaging 54.6 points per game as a team, Rider is led by graduate forward Kristina Okofo who is the only player averaging double figures at 11.4 ppg and is third on the team with 5.3 rebounds per game. Junior guard Aliya McIver follows her in the scoring column with a 9.3 ppg average while leading the team in rebounding, assists and steals with 6.3 rebounds per contest, 56 assists and 35 steals. As a team, the Broncs are shooting at a 37.0 percent clip (336-of-909), including 99 three pointers.
SERIES HISTORY vs RIDER
· Saturday's game will be the fifth 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.
· With SHU winning the earlier meeting this season, the teams are tied at one win apiece as common conference foes.
NEXT TIME OUT
Continuing a string of games that will complete a home-and-home league series, Sacred Heart returns home to welcome the Marist Red Foxes for an MLK Day afternoon match-up. The Pioneers are looking to avenge a two-point loss to Marist when they met in Poughkeepsie just prior to the New Year. Tip-off in the MAAC battle from The Pitt Center is set for 2:00 p.m. with all of the action available live on ESPN+.
