Sacred Heart University Department of Athletics
11-12,9-5MAAC
Merrimack
12-10,9-4MAAC
Pioneers Drop Road Decision at Merrimack
2/5/2026 9:12:00 PM | Women's Basketball
North Andover, Mass. – Sophie Nascimento finished with an even dozen to lead the Sacred Heart women's basketball team as they dropped a 69-47 decision on the road at Merrimack on Saturday.
Following Nascimento in the scoring column was Nalyce Dudley who finished with 10 points and Emma Kirby who added eight. As a team, the Pioneers finished the game shooting 31.5 percent, connecting on 17-of-54 field goal attempts, including four from beyond the three-point arc.
The Pioneers did lead the battle of the boards, closing out the night with a 36-30 margin, led by Dudley, Kirby and Kursite who each finished with a half dozen. Among the 36 rebounds for the Pioneers were 12 offensive boards which SHU turned into 13 points while Merrimack mustered just four points on three offensive boards.
RECORDS
Sacred Heart: 11-12, 9-5 MAAC
Merrimack: 12-10, 9-4 MAAC
TOP PERFORMERS
Sophie Nascimento: 12 points, 5 rebounds
Nalyce Dudley: 10 points, 6 rebounds
Emma Kirby: 8 points, 6 rebounds
FIRST QUARTER NOTES
· Merrimack opened up the scoring on the night with a bucket on their first possession.
· Amelia Wood matched that just under a minute later to knot the score at two before the Warriors put up back-to-back baskets to open up a four-point lead.
· A free throw line jumper from Nascimento broke up the string of baskets for Merrimack, however the Warriors responded to her basket with a five-point spurt to take an 11-4 lead.
· Nascimento once again put a stop to the flurry of Merrimack points, this time hitting a corner three which Kirby followed with a pair of free throws to pull within a pair.
· After another six-point spurt from the Warriors, Sacred Heart closed out the quarter with the final three points on a free throw form Nascimento and a jumper from Missy Nuku to make it a five-point difference at the first break.
SECOND QUARTER NOTES
· After Merrimack opened up the second quarter with a three pointer, Dudley got on the board for the first time with back-to-back layups.
· Another Warrior three answered the four from Dudley before Esther Kursite got on the board with a jumper.
· Merrimack managed to score the next five to gain a 10-point lead before Kirby broke up the four point push from the Warriors with a layup just inside the four minute mark.
· Sacred Heart grabbed two more points at the free throw line before Merrimack struck from long range once more before time expired on the opening half with the Warriors leading 31-22.
THIRD QUARTER NOTES
· The game of mini runs continued for both teams to open up the third quarter. This time around it was the Pioneers striking first with back-to-back baskets, both from Nascimento, to cut the halftime deficit to five.
· The Warriors responded with a 7-0 run before another set of back-to-back baskets for Sacred Heart with Kirby and Sierra Johnson each hitting jumpers, the latter coming from Johnson as she hit from the free throw line as the shot clock expired.
· A pair of three pointers from Missy Nuku and Dudley at the three and two minute marks looked to spark the Pioneers offense, however the Warriors found the answer on each.
· Nascimento would put a close to the third quarter with a pair of free throws that gave her an even dozen for the game and cut the Warriors lead to 52-41.
FOURTH QUARTER NOTES
· Coming out of the final break it was the Warriors who jumped out early, scoring the first six points before Johnson put Sacred Heart on the board with a three pointer just inside the midway point of the period.
· Merrimack's barrage of three pointers would put the game out of reach despite Kirby answering the first of those wit ha layup.
· The Warriors closed the game out with eight of the final nine points, all eight coming from the sharp shooting Lydia Melaschenjko.
NEXT
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+.
