Sacred Heart
Fairfield
Regular Season Finale Takes Pios Crosstown to Fairfield
2/27/2026 4:18:00 PM | Women's Basketball
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THE LEAD
One-hundred-eighteen days since the opening tip off and the Pioneers have reached their regular season finale and what better way to close out the regular season than by traveling six miles to face the crosstown rival Fairfield Stags. Tip off in the rare Saturday night MAAC battle from Mahoney Arena is set for 7:00 p.m. with all of the action available live on ESPN+.
SCOUTING SACRED HEART
Having secured its first postseason berth since joining the MAAC, Sacred Heart stands at 10-9 in league action currently in a three-way tie for fifth place. Leading the Pioneers is senior guard Amelia Wood who has scored double figures in 22 of the 28 games this season. For the season she is one of two players to average double figures at 13.4 ppg. In addition to her double figure scoring, Wood has recorded a team-high six doubles doubles which has lifted her average on the boards to 6.5 per game, while she also leads the way with 61 assists, 59 steals and 30 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 12.8 ppg while shooting 44.9 percent (132-of-294) 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 7.9 per game scoring average in MAAC games. As a team, the Pioneers are shooting 39.2 percent from the field (566-of-1,443) with 126 of the 566 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 FAIRFIELD
Needing a win to guarantee the top seed in the upcoming MAAC Championship, the Stags enter Saturday night's regular season finale winners of seven-straight with a 24-4 overall record and an 18-1 record in MAAC play. For the season, the Stags are dominating in MAAC play, outscoring their opponents by 20.5 points per game. For the season, Fairfield is led by junior guard Kaety L'Amoreaux who is averaging 18.6 points per game followed by junior Megan Anderson at 16.2 ppg. The pair, the only two to average double figures, are a major threat from outside the arc where they have made a combined 149 three pointers. As a team, the Stags are dangerous from three, with 333 of their 777 total field goals from outside the arc. For the season, the Stags are shooting at a 46.0 percent clip (777-of-1,690), including 37.7 percent from three (333-of-883).
SERIES HISTORY vs Fairfield
· In a series that dates back to the Pioneers first year on the hardwood (1974-75), the Stags and Pioneers will meet for the 22nd time on Saturday.
· The Stags hold a 14-7 record in the previous 20 meetings.
· Last season, the Stags took both ends of the home-and-home series in what was the first year as common MAAC opponents.
· The most recent SHU win came on December 11, 2022, a 69-58 win on the Stags home court.
NEXT TIME OUT
With a number of scenarios still to play out on the final day of the regular season, the Stags know they will play their next game in Atlantic City but an opponent and a date remain to be determined. With their current 10-9 record, the Pioneers could fall either sixth or seventh in the seedings which would then determine when they play. If the Pioneers finish sixth, they will not play their first game in the MAAC Championship until Saturday, however a seventh-place seeding would mean a Thursday first round game. Check SacredHeartPioneers.com for the most up-to-date schedule and links to follow all of the action from the MAAC Championship.
