GAME DAY INFORMATION |
DATE: January 29, 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
Looking to extend its longest win streak of the season, Sacred Heart welcomes the Manhattan Jaspers to Fairfield for the first and only meeting between the MAAC opponents in the regular season. Tip off in the first of back-to-back home games for the Pioneers is set for 7:00 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 8-3 in MAAC play. Leading the Pioneers is senior guard Amelia Wood who has scored double figures in the last 15 games and 18 of the 20 games this season. For the season she is one of two players to average double figures at 15.0 ppg. In addition to her double figure scoring streak, Wood has recorded a team-high five doubles doubles which has lifted her to leading the team in rebounding with a 6.6 per game average as well as leading the way with 44 assists, 50 steals and 18 blocks. After increasing her career-high in scoring to 22 in the road win over Niagara, junior forward Nalyce Dudley is second in scoring average at 12.8 ppg while shooting at a team-high 48.0 percent (95-of-198) 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 9.5 per game scoring average in MAAC games, while she is averaging 11.9 points over the last seven games. As a team, the Pioneers are shooting 40.1 percent from the field (411-of-1,026) with 84 of the 411 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 18.5 turnovers per game.
SCOUTING MANHATTAN
Sitting at an even .500 in its first 10 MAAC games, Manhattan finds itself in the middle of the pack in the league standings, sitting tied for sixth with Siena. Averaging 55.1 points per game and being outscored by 10.9 ppg, the Jaspers are led by senior guard Brianna Davis who is the lone Jasper to average in double figures at 13.1 ppg. Following her in the scoring column is D2 transfer graduate guard Colette Mulderig who puts up 9.7 ppg and is second on the team with 5.4 rebounds per game. As a team, the Jaspers are shooting at a 37.4 percent clip (390-of-1,042), including 61 three pointers.
SERIES HISTORY vs MANHATTAN
- Despite just one year as conference foes, Manhattan and Sacred Heart meet for the 10th time in the history of the two programs.
- Sacred Heart holds a slim 5-4 advantage in the previous nine meetings.
- The first meeting came 20November 2008 with Manhattan taking a 68-62 win. That was the first of five-straight seasons the two teams would meet, including in the WNIT in March 2011.
- Last season, the squads split a home-and-home series with each winning on their own home court.
NEXT TIME OUT
Sacred Heart closes out a two-game homestand this weekend when they welcome one of two undefeated MAAC teams to The Pitt to close out the month of January on Saturday, January 31. The match-up against the league leading Fairfield Stags is the first of a home-and-home series against the crosstown rival who Sacred Heart will visit for its regular season finale on February 28. Tip-off in Saturday's MAAC battle is set for 2:00 p.m. with all of the action available live on ESPN+.
