Sacred Heart University Department of Athletics
12-14,10-7MAAC
Merrimack
16-10,13-4MAAC
Kirby’s 18 Paces Pios in Home Loss to Merrimack
2/19/2026 10:23:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Fairfield, Conn. – In a see-saw battle that featured 11 lead changes and 10 ties it was a team-high 18 points from junior Emma Kirby that led the way for the Sacred Heart women's basketball team as the Pioneers dropped a 62-57 decision to the visiting Merrimack Warriors.
Kirby's 18 points were complimented by a team-high eight rebounds while she added three assists and a pair of steals and closed out the night shooting 7-of-8 from the field and 4-of-6 at the free throw line.
Joining Kirby in leading the Pios was senior Faith Pappas who finished with 14 points, her second double figure outing in the last three games, and junior Nalyce Dudley who finished with 13 points. Pappas finished the night shooting 5-of-9 from the field and 3-of-4 at the line with a trio of assists to her credit.
As a team, the Pioneers finished the game shooting 44 percent from the field, connecting on 22-of-50 total field goal attempts. Among the 22 field goals were four from beyond the three-point arc, while the Pioneers finished 9-of-13 at the free throw line. Kirby's eight rebounds led the way as all eight players who saw time finished with at least one board as the Pios finished in a 31-31 deadlock in the rebounding battle.
RECORDS
Sacred Heart: 12-14, 10-7 MAAC
Merrimack: 16-10, 13-4 MAAC
TOP PERFORMERS
Emma Kirby: 18 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 7-8 field goals
Faith Pappas: 14 points, 3 steals, 5-9 field goals
Nalyce Dudley: 13 points, 4 rebounds, 5-10 field goals
FIRST QUARTER NOTES
· Dudley got the scoring going for both teams on the night as she converted the first field goal attempt for either team for a pair after the Pioneers secured the opening tip.
· Just over four minutes later, a layup from Kirby knotted the game at four before Merrimack used a 6-0 run to open up a 10-4 lead with three minutes to play in the opening stanza.
· Kirby broke up that Merrimack momentum hitting one-of-two at the line before Sophie Nasciment broke into the scoring column with a floater.
· Kirby added another basket for what amounted to five unanswered that made it a one-point game, 10-9, before Merrimack added two points at the line to take a three-point lead into the first intermission.
SECOND QUARTER NOTES
· After scoring eight points in the opening quarter, Madison Roman opened up the scoring for both teams in the second quarter.
· Pappas would then go back-to-back with a reverse layup and a drive to the hoop to once again make it a one-point game, 14-13.
· Merrimack would then get the benefit of a pair of three pointers and two more baskets to match just three points at the line for Sacred Heart to open up its largest lead of the game at 24-16.
· The last of those baskets was a layup with 3:13 remaining before the end of the half, with that bucket also the final points of the half for Merrimack as Sacred Heart went on to close out the quarter on a 10-0 run to take its first lead of the night at 26-24.
· Kirby opened up that scoring run with a layup and a pair of free throws that pushed her into double figures for the game, while Pappas followed with a jumper and two free throws of her own for eight points in the opening half. Kirby added one more basket with six seconds remaining to give her a first half high, for all players, of 12.
THIRD QUARTER NOTES
· The third quarter would see-saw back and forth with neither team leading by more than three points. Merrimack opened up the scoring with a jumper before Dudley answered with the first of three triples on the night for the junior, this one providing a three point, 29-26, lead.
· Following a series of three-straight lead changes, Dudley would hit another triple for a fourth lead change that provided a 34-32 lead just ahead of the media timeout.
· Merrimack answered that with three free throws over the next few minutes before a jumper from Pappas put her into double figures and provide yet another lead change, 36-35.
· The Warriors would see the benefit of another three pointer with 33 seconds left in the quarter before Kirby closed out the period with a hook shot in the paint that evened the score at 38 going into the final 10 minutes.
FOURTH QUARTER NOTES
· With the Pioneers opening up the quarter with possession, the would be the first to score with Dudley using a reverse layup for the 40-38 lead and pushing her into double figures for the game.
· After Roman knotted the game at 40 with a pair of free throws, Dudley struck again, this time from outside the arc for a 43-40 lead.
· Merrimack would match that with a three pointer of their own before Nuku drove to the hoop for a pair, again matched by the Warriors on the opposite end.
· After Pappas sank one-of-two at the line from a flagrant foul call, the Warriors rallied for eight unanswered and a 53-46 lead they wouldn't relinquish.
· SHU cut into that lead late, scoring five-straight over an eight-second stretch inside of the final 30 seconds, however Merrimack would answer at the line to secure the victory.
UP NEXT
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+.
