GAME DAY INFORMATION |
DATE: January 10, 2026
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LOCATION: M&T Bank Arena | Hamden, CT |
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GAME DAY LINKS |
LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO |
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THE LEAD
After going without a midweek game, the Pioneers return to the hardwood with a Saturday afternoon battle against in-state rival, and one of two undefeated teams in MAAC play, Quinnipiac on Saturday, making the 21-mile trek to M&T Bank Arena. Tip off from Hamden is set for 3:00 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 have opened MAAC play 4-1, winning two-straight games to open up 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 nine games and 12 of the 14 games this season, including back-to-back 21-point games to open up conference play. She also set a career-high on New Year's Day against Niagara and included in the first of those 21 point games was 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 leads the team with 32 assists, 31 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 12.2 ppg while shooting at a team-high 51.5 percent (68-of-131) with that average increased to 59.4 percent when shooting from inside the arc. As a team, the Pioneers are shooting 39.0 percent from the field (285-of-731) with 56 of the 285 baskets from outside the arc. Despite a season low 11 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 18.9 turnovers per game.
SCOUTING QUINNIPIAC
Winners of its last six, all in MAAC play, Quinnipiac enters Saturday afternoon's game with an 11-4 record and a perfect 6-0 record in conference play tied with Fairfield as the only undefeated MAAC teams. For the season, the Bobcats are outscoring their opponents by just shy of 16 points per game (15.8). Individually, four players are averaging double figures, led by graduate guard Jackie Grisdale who is adding 14.3 points per game in 34.1 minutes of action. Grisdale is the Bobcats biggest threat from outside the arc, with 45 three pointers, shooting 42.9 percent from long range. Joining her in leading the team is senior forward Ella O'Donnell who adds 11.3 ppg. As a team, the Bobcats are shooting 43.0 percent from the field (376-of-874), with 135 of their 376 field goals from outside the arc.
SERIES HISTORY vs QUINNIPIAC
· In a series that dates back to the Pioneers early days as a program, Sacred Heart and Quinnipiac will meet for the 64th time in the history of the programs.
· Since joining Division I (1999-00), the Pioneers are 16-13 against the in-state rival Bobcats.
· In the first year as conference foes in the MAAC, the Bobcats took both ends of a home-and-home series, including a 24-point victory at M&T Bank Arena.
NEXT TIME OUT
A second and final morning game awaits the Pioneers when they next take the court, welcoming the Siena Saints to The Pitt Center on Wednesday, January 14. The match-up with the Saints is the only of the season as Siena is one of four teams the Pioneers will not play a home-and-home series in league play. Tip-off in the MAAC battle is set for 11:30 a.m. with all of the action available live on ESPN+.
