Fairfield, Conn. – Junior Nalyce Dudley rattled off five points in a 40 second stretch to give her team a late lead they wouldn't relinquish as the Sacred Heart women's basketball team extended its win streak to four-straight with a 52-50 win over the visiting Manhattan Jaspers.

Those five points for Dudley pushed her over the double figure mark as she led the Pioneers with 14 points, connecting on 5-of-9 from the field including a perfect 2-of-2 from beyond the three-point arc. Overall, Dudley was one of three players to hit double figures with senior Amelia Wood finishing with an even dozen and first-year Sophie Nascimento collecting 10 points.

Nascimento added to her 10 points with six rebounds, three assists, three steals and a block, part of a season-high seven total blocks for Sacred Heart. Wood led the way with three blocks.

As a team, Sacred Heart finished the game shooting 35.3 percent from the field, connecting on 18-of-51 field goal attempts. Among the 18 baskets were six from beyond the arc, while the Pioneers were also 10-of-16 at the free throw line. Manhattan did manage a slim 36-35 margin in the rebounding battle with Emma Kirby leading the Pioneers with eight boards.

RECORDS
Sacred Heart: 11-10, 9-3 MAAC
Manhattan: 5-15, 5-6 MAAC

TOP PERFORMERS
Nalyce Dudley: 14 points, 3 rebounds, 3 steals, 5-9 FG
Amelia Wood: 12 points, 2 rebounds, 3 blocks
Sophie Nasciment: 10 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals

FIRST QUARTER NOTES

·       Manhattan came out of the gates scoring on their first two possessions, with Brianna Davis scoring the first five points for the Jaspers.

·       It would take some time for the Pioneers offense to kick in with Sierra Johnson the first two score, connecting on one-of-two at the line and following that up with a layup nearly four minutes into the game.

·       Dudley would get herself on the board to complete a 5-0 rally for Sacred Heart, knotting the score for the first time on the night.

·       Manhattan answered by scoring the next six points and eventually took a 15-10 lead into the first intermission.

·       Wood had the final word for Sacred Heart in the first quarter as she drained the first three pointer of the night for the Pios to make it a 13-10 game.

SECOND QUARTER NOTES

·       Manhattan opened up the second quarter with a three pointer that provided its largest lead of the night at 18-10.

·       The Pioneers responded by scoring 12 of the next 14 points to flip the score for a 22-20 lead.

·       Among the 12 points were a trio of three-point buckets. Johnson provided the first while Dudley and Nascimento added one each with the second one from Nascimento providing the lead change.

·       Manhattan answered Nascimento's three with one of their own before Jordanna Schrecker provided the third lead change in a 62 second span with her first basket of the night, a drive to the hoop for two.

·       A layup from the Jasper's Tatianna Collins with 2:45 remaining before the half would prove to be the final points in the first 20 minutes for Manhattan as Sacred Heart scored the final four points to take a 29-25 lead into the locker room.

·       The final two points came on an Esther Kursite putback bucket with 15 seconds remaining.

THIRD QUARTER NOTES

·       Coming out of the halftime break it was the Amelia Wood show for the first five minutes for Sacred Heart as she opened up the quarter with seven unanswered points.

·       Following a Manhattan free throw, Wood and added another layup for nine points before Kursite added a layup and extended the Pioneers opening run to 11-1.

·       With a 40-26 SHU lead, the largest of the night, the Jaspers defense kicked in and held Sacred Heart scoreless over the final 4:26 of the quarter, nearly erasing that 14-point lead as they trailed by just one at the quarter break, 40-39.

·       Four different Jaspers scored in that quarter closing run with Davis and Colette Mulderig leading the way with four points each.

FOURTH QUARTER NOTES

·       Manhattan extended its quarter ending run into the fourth quarter with the first four points to take a 43-40 lead.

·       With the Jaspers looking to extend that rally once again, Nascimento poked the rock free just inside the half court line and went straight to the hoop for a layup looking to take the momentum out of the Jaspers sails.

·       Manhattan matched that basket nearly 90 seconds later to which Nascimento answered again with another layup to again make it a one-point game 45-44.

·       That basket, which came just ahead of the media timeout, sparked a 7-0 run for the home team as Dudley came out of the timeout to score five unanswered, giving her team a 49-45 lead with 3:33 remaining. The first of those baskets for Dudley was a three pointer at the end of the shot clock thanks to a feed from Nascimento while she drove from the three-point line to the hoop for the other two.

·       After a 30 second time out, the Jaspers answered with a second-chance bucket to make it a two-point game before sending Nascimento to the line. The rookie connected on both attempts at the line to make it a four-point game once again, this time with 1:56 remaining.

·       After an empty trip to the line for the Jaspers, Elisa Sole Sanchez hit her third three pointer of the night to make it a one-point game, 51-50, with 37.6 seconds remaining.

·       With the Jaspers choosing not to send SHU to the line, Sacred Heart took the shot clock to its final ticks before an attempt rattled off the rim where Kirby collected and was fouled on the putback attempt where she hit the first of two free throws.

·       Manhattan chose to advance the ball with 4.4 seconds remaining but the inbounds pass was deflected allowing the clock to start and the Jaspers were unable to get off a clean look as time expired.

UP NEXT
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+.