Sacred Heart University Department of Athletics
Merrimack
Pios Open Home-and-Home Series with Merrimack Thursday Night
2/4/2026 4:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball
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THE LEAD
Another first meeting of the season between MAAC foes awaits on Thursday night when the Pioneers head to North Andover, Mass. for the first game in a home-and-home series against the Merrimack Warriors. The outcome looms large for postseason implications with both teams currently fighting for third place in the league standings. Tip off in the MAAC battle from Lawler Arena is set for 7:00 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 stand at 9-4 in MAAC play. Leading the Pioneers is senior guard Amelia Wood who has scored double figures in 19 of the 22 games this season. For the season she is one of two players to average double figures at 14.5 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 6.5 per game, while she also leads the way with 45 assists, 52 steals and 21 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 at a team-high 47.9 percent (104-of-217) with that average increased to 53.1 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 9.3 per game scoring average in MAAC games, while she is averaging 11.1 points over the last nine games. As a team, the Pioneers are shooting 39.5 percent from the field (443-of-1,122) with 92 of the 443 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 18.4 turnovers per game.
SCOUTING MERRIMACK
Just a half-game back in the standings from Sacred Heart, Merrimack also had a win-streak snapped in its last game, dropping an 80-53 decision to Quinnipiac. 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 12.1 ppg and is the Warriors biggest threat from outside the arc with 67 of her 83 total field goals going for three points. Junior forward Madison Roman enters Thursday's game averaging a double double with 11.4 points and 10.6 rebounds per game. Roman is not only the lone player in the MAAC to average a double double, she is the only player in the league to average double figure rebounds. Rounding out the leading scorers is graduate forward Oralye Kiefer who adds 11.1 ppg. As a team, the Warriors average 67.8 points per game, while surrendering 66.9 ppg to their opponents. For the season, Merrimack is shooting at a 40.4 percent clip (524-of-1,296), including 30.8 percent from three (147-of-477).
SERIES HISTORY vs MERRIMACK
· In a series that dates back to the 1987-88 season, Warriors and Pioneers will meet for the 17th time on Thursday night.
· Overall, the Warriors hold a 9-7 record in the previous 16 meetings.
· The first two of those meetings came prior to Merrimack makings its jump to Division I where the remaining 14 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.
· The Pioneers took the final of those decisions by a convincing 74-48 score at The Pitt.
NEXT TIME OUT
Another big match-up looms for the Pioneers as they welcome another first-time MAAC opponent this season in Mount St. Mary's on Saturday for the annual National Girls and Women in Sports Day game. The crucial conference battle will be the first of two against the league foe with Sacred Heart making the trip to Emmitsburg in late February. Tip-off in Saturday's MAAC battle is set for 1:00 p.m. with all of the action available live on ESPN+.
