GAME DAY INFORMATION |
DATE: January 19, 2026
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LOCATION: Pitt Center | Fairfield, CT |
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GAME DAY LINKS |
LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO |
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THE LEAD
Continuing a stretch of completing home-and-home MAAC series, the Pioneers will welcome Marist to The Pitt for a holiday afternoon matinee on Monday. The Pioneers look to avoid a series sweep against the Red Foxes who held on for a slim 57-55 margin in the first meeting despite a great look from the corner for Amelia Wood that circled the rim before falling off the front of the hoop. Tip off from Fairfield 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 5-3 in MAAC play. Leading the Pioneers is senior guard Amelia Wood who has scored double figures in the last 12 games and 15 of the 17 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 6.2 per game average and leads the team with 36 assists, 41 steals and 13 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 11.8 ppg while shooting at a team-high 47.1 percent (74-of-157) with that average increased to 54.2 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 9.1 per game scoring average in MAAC games, while she is averaging 13 points over the last four games. As a team, the Pioneers are shooting 39.2 percent from the field (343-of-874) with 70 of the 343 baskets from outside the arc. Despite a season low 11 turnovers in the January 3 meeting against Canisius, 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 MARIST
After evening their MAAC record at 3-3, the Red Foxes have lost their last two games against conference leading Fairfield and Quinnipiac and stands at 3-5 in league play. Averaging 58.2 points per game, Marist is led by redshirt-senior guard Lexie Tarul who jumped into the top spot in the scoring column with a 12.0 ppg average. Shooting 40 percent for the season, she is also the biggest threat from outside the arc with 34 of her 71 field goals from three-point. She is also second on the team with a 5.2 rebound per game average. Freshman guard/forward Justine Henry follows just behind Tarul at 11.6 ppg. She also leads the team with 6.8 rebounds per game and 26 steals. As a team, the Red Foxes are shooting at a 36.0 percent clip (366-of-1,017), including 124 three pointers, third most among MAAC teams.
SERIES HISTORY vs MARIST
·      Sacred Heart and Marist meet for just the third 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.
·      Marist remained unbeaten in the all-time series earlier this season when the Red Foxes held on for a 57-55 victory just prior to the New Year in Poughkeepsie.Â
NEXT TIME OUT
Sacred Heart will embark on its longest, by length, road trip of the season following today's game as they head to Buffalo, N.Y. for a pair of games against Canisius and Niagara. Following the 420 mile trip on Wednesday, the Pioneers will begin the two-game trip on Thursday evening against the Golden Griffins before taking on the Purple Eagles on Saturday. Tip-off in the first of those MAAC battles is set for 6:30 p.m. with all of the action available live on ESPN+.
