GAME DAY INFORMATION |
DATE: January 3, 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
New Year, new vibes as the Pioneers look to go 2-0 in 2026 when closing out a stretch of back-to-back home games in 48 hours with the visiting Canisius Golden Griffens who are still in search of their first win in league play. The Pioneers currently sit fourth in the league standings behind a trio of undefeated MAAC teams in Fairfield (4-0), Quinnipiac (4-0) and Siena (3-0). Tip off from the Pitt Center 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 its non-conference schedule with a 2-7 record, the Pioneers reset and have opened MAAC play 3-1, winning three of its last four games and looking to start the 2026 portion of their schedule a perfect 2-0. Leading the Pioneers is senior guard Amelia Wood who has scored double figures in the last eight games and 11 of the 13 games this season, including back-to-back 21-point games to open up conference play. She also se a career-high on New Year's Day against Niagara and Included in the first of those 21 point games included her 1,000th career point (against Iona). For the season she is one of two players to average double figures at 14.9 ppg. Additionally, Wood is second on the team in rebounding with a 5.6 per game average and assists with 26 and leads the team with 29 steals and nine blocks. After increasing her career-high in scoring for the second time to 21 in the New Year's Day win over Niagara, junior forward Nalyce Dudley increased her season average to 11.6 ppg while shooting at a team-high 50.4 percent (60-of-119) with that average increased to 58.6 percent when shooting from inside the arc. As a team, the Pioneers are shooting 37.9 percent from the field (255-of-672) with 53 of the 255 baskets from outside the arc. Despite a season low 12 turnovers 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 19.5 turnovers per game.
SCOUTING CANISIUS
Still in search of their first MAAC win of the season, Canisius has dropped its last three games and are being outscored by an average of 18.8 points per game. Despite the low scoring average (54.9), the Golden Griffens are shooting at a 40.5 percent clip which is third best in the league. Junior forward Shariah Gailes is the low Canisius player to average double figures on the season with a 14.3 point effort, while shooting 50% overall on the season (42-of-84). She also leads the rebounding efforts with a 7.2 rebounds per game average. Senior guard Franka Whittenberg follows Gailes in the scoring column at 9.1 points per game. Inside of the Gailes 40.5 field goal percentage are 54 three pointers, while as a team they are limiting opponents to just 25.7 percent shooting from outside the arc which is currently 24th best in the nation.
SERIES HISTORY vs CANISIUS
·      Sacred Heart and Canisius meet for the third time in the history of the two programs.
·      In what was the Pioneers inaugural season in the MAAC, the teams met twice in a home-and-home series, with each team winning on the opposing home court.
·      The all-time series began in Buffalo with the Pioneers taking a 70-63 victory just after the New Year.
·      The second meeting came later in that same month with Canisius winning 67-53 at the Pitt Center.
NEXT TIME OUT
After opening up the New Year with two games in a 48-hour stretch, the Pioneers will enjoy a week hiatus before returning to the hardwood with one of two in-state rivals when they visit Quinnipiac on Saturday, January 10. Tip-off in the MAAC battle is set for 3:00 p.m. with all of the action available live on ESPN+.
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