Sacred Heart University Department of Athletics
Merrimack
Pioneers Host Merrimack Thursday Night for Annual Pink Game
2/18/2026 4:30:00 PM | Women's Basketball
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THE LEAD
It will be just two weeks between the first and second meetings between Sacred Heart and Merrimack as the Warriors make the trip to Fairfield on Thursday night for the penultimate regular season home game for the Pioneers. The Pios will look for revenge when they take the court after dropping a 69-47 decision in the first meeting at Lawlor Arena back on February 5. Tip off in the MAAC battle from The Pitt Cetner is set for 7:00 p.m. with all of the action in the MAAC contest available live on ESPN+.
SCOUTING SACRED HEART
Having secured its first postseason berth since joining the MAAC, Sacred Heart stands at 10-6 in league action currently in fourth place, one game ahead of Siena and Iona in the win column. Leading the Pioneers is senior guard Amelia Wood who has scored double figures in 21 of the 25 games this season. For the season she is one of two players to average double figures at 14.2 ppg. In addition to her double figure scoring, Wood has recorded a team-high five doubles doubles which has lifted her average on the boards to 6.4 per game, while she also leads the way with 54 assists, 58 steals and 25 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 12.6 ppg while shooting 45.0 percent (118-of-262) with that average increased to 49.7 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 9.0 per game scoring average in MAAC games, while she is averaging 10.3 points over the last 12 games. As a team, the Pioneers are shooting 39.0 percent from the field (506-of-1,296) with 113 of the 506 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 MERRIMACK
With a two-game lead over Sacred Heart for third place in the conference standings, Merrimack has won its last four games and seven of its last eight, for a 12-4 record in league play. Entering Thursday night's game, Merrimack is led by sophomore guard Mia Fiore who is averaging 13.8 points per game, one of four players on the team who average double figures. Following Fiore is senior guard Lydia Melashenko who puts up 12.5 ppg and is the Warriors biggest threat from outside the arc with 81 of her 102 total field goals going for three points. Junior forward Madison Roman enters Thursday's game averaging a double double with 11.4 points and 10.7 rebounds per game. Not only is she the lone player in the MAAC to average a double double, Roman is the only player in the league to average double figure rebounds. Rounding out the leading scorers is graduate forward Oralye Kiefer who adds 10.4 ppg. As a team, the Warriors average 68.9 points per game, while surrendering 64.8 ppg to their opponents. For the season, Merrimack is shooting at a 41.0 percent clip (631-of-1,540), including 31.5 percent from three (180-of-572).
SERIES HISTORY vs MERRIMACK
· In a series that dates back to the 1987-88 season, Warriors and Pioneers will meet for the 18th time on Thursday night.
· Overall, the Warriors hold a 10-7 record in the previous 17 meetings.
· The first two of those meetings came prior to Merrimack making its jump to Division I where the remaining 15 have all come as conference foes either in the NEC or the MAAC.
· Last season, the teams split the home-and-home series with each team winning on its own home court.
· Merrimack won the first meeting this season with a big fourth quarter to pull away for a 69-47 victory.
NEXT TIME OUT
Believe it or not, the final home game of the regular season is upon us as the Pioneers will close out its schedule at the Pitt Center on Saturday when they host in-state and league rival Quinnipiac to close out a home-and-home series with the Bobcats. QU took the first meeting between the two squads, pulling away in the fourth quarter for a 65-49 victory. Be sure to arrive early as prior to tip-off the Pioneers will honor their four seniors: Amelia Wood, Grace John, Sierra Johnson and Faith Pappas. Tip-off in the final home game of the year is scheduled for 2:00 p.m., with all of the action in the MAAC battle available live on ESPN+.
