Sacred Heart University Department of Athletics
Quinnipiac
Women's Basketball Welcomes Quinnipiac for Senior Day Game Saturday
2/20/2026 3:02:00 PM | Women's Basketball
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THE LEAD
For the final time this season, the Pioneers will take the hardwood at The Pitt Center on Saturday as they welcome the Quinnipiac Bobcats for the final regular season home game. Prior to the game, the Pios will honor their four seniors: Grace John, Faith Pappas, Sierra Johnson and Amelia Wood. Tip off in the MAAC battle from The Pitt Center is set for 2:00 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 10-7 in league action currently in fourth place, one-half game ahead of Iona in the loss column. Leading the Pioneers is senior guard Amelia Wood who has scored double figures in 21 of the 26 games this season. For the season she is one of two players to average double figures at 137 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 6.3 per game, while she also leads the way with 54 assists, 59 steals and 26 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 12.7 ppg while shooting 45.2 percent (123-of-272) with that average increased to 49.5 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 8.6 per game scoring average in MAAC games, while she is averaging 9.6 points over the last 13 games. As a team, the Pioneers are shooting 39.2 percent from the field (528-of-1,346) with 117 of the 528 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 18.8 turnovers per game.
SCOUTING QUINNIPIAC
Having locked up a top three spot in the upcoming MAAC Championship, the Bobcats stand at 16-1 in league play with their lone loss to Fairfield whom they split the regular season series against. Leading the MAAC in scoring defense (52.7 ppg) and second in scoring offense (69.0), Quinnipiac is led by a trio who are averaging in double figures with graduate guard Jackie Grisdale topping the list at 12.7 points per game. Grisdale is an outside shooting threat with 63 of her 117 total field goals from outside the three-point arc. Following her in the scoring column is senior forward Ella O'Donnell and junior guard Karson Martin who average 11.8 and 10.7 points per game, respectively. As a team, the Bobcats are shooting at a 44.6 percent clip (665-of-1,491), including 37.3 percent from three (206-of-552), with both of those percentage the second highest in the MAAC.
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 65th time in the history of the programs.
· Since joining Division I (1999-00), the Pioneers are 16-14 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
Two road games await the Pioneers in the week ahead as they begin with a trip to western Maryland for a rematch with the Mount St. Mary's Mountaineers after needing overtime to decide the opening game in the home-and-home series at The Pitt. The last major road trip in the regular season is scheduled for Thursday, February 26 with tip-off slated for 7:00 p.m. All of the action in the MAAC battle will be available live on ESPN+.
