FAIRFIELD, Conn. -  Before the start of today's matchup between the visitor of St. Francis Brooklyn and Sacred Heart, the Sacred Heart University women's basketball program honored its two-member senior class, Allyson Murphy and Madison Cheatham.

On Senior Day, the Sacred Heart University women's basketball team cruised past St. Francis 84-63, a season-high in scoring. With the win the Pioneers improve to 10-17 overall and 7-9 in the NEC while the Terriers drop to 8-19 overall and 4-12 in the NEC. The win clinches an NEC tournament berth to continue their postseason streak as the only school in the league to qualify for postseason play in every year of eligibility.

Sacred Hearts three-point shooting was the key to their offensive explosion making 14 in the game to set a season-high of three pointers made in a game for the 2019-20 season.

1st Quarter (27-18 SHU)

• Sacred Heart got off to a quick 4-0 lead, then St. Francis countered with a. 4-0 run to tie the game at 4 all
• Sacred Heart went on a 5-1 run to lead 9-5
• Senior Allyson Murphy brought the heat as she swished a three pointer for his first points of the game, 12-10
• Two consecutive three pointers from Jayla Davis and Adrianne Hagood gave the Pioneers a healthy 18-14 cushion
• Hagood continued her three-point streak scoring two more to increase the Pioneers lead to eight
• A three pointer by Sonia Smith at the buzzer gave Sacred Heart a 27-18 lead to finish the first quarter
• Three-point shooting was the difference in the first quarter with SHU making six threes, compared the St. Francis's one

2^nd Quarter (52-36 SHU)

• The Pioneers came out firing on all cylinders with Hagood making another three-pointer, her fourth of the game, 30-18
• A St. Francis 5-0 run cut down the Pioneers lead to seven, but a layup from Hagood and a three pointer from Murphy increased the Pioneers lead back to 12
• After two scoreless minutes, the Sacred Heart offense lit up going on an 8-3 run, 45-28
•  A slow final four minutes as the Terriers narrowly outscored the Pioneers 8-7
• Sacred Heart made five more three pointers in the 2^nd quarter to bring their total to 11, a season-high

3^rd Quarter (69-53 SHU)

• Sacred Heart continue their torrid three-point shooting as Nikki Johnson drains one to increase the lead to 55-36
• Two made free-throw by Olivia Dabney and a Johnson layup helped fuel a 7-2 run to start the quarter, 57-38
• Murphy scored all seven points in a 7-2 run for Sacred Heart at the 2:38 mark, 68-45
• The Terriers ended the third quarter on an 8-1 run to cut down Sacred Hearts lead to 69-53

4^th Quarter (84-63 SHU)

• Three blocks from the Sacred Heart defense prevented the visitors from scoring on a long offensive series leading to a Sacred Heart 9-3 run, 76-56. Fueled by two Abigail Kangudie layups, Hagood's sixth three of the game and a layup by Layla Davis
• Sacred Heart cruised to the finish sealing an 84-63 win and a NEC tournament berth.

Notes

• With the win Sacred Heart clinch an NEC tournament Berth to continue their postseason streak as the only school in the league to qualify for the postseason in every year of eligibility
• Adrianne Hagood led the team scoring 22 points shooting 6-for-9 from beyond the arc, her 9^th 20-point game of the year
• Jayla Davis recorded 21 points and a set a career-high with six assists
• Senior Allyson Murphy registered 13 points going 3-for-5 from three-point range.
• Olivia Dabney had seven points, 10 boards and set a career-high in assists with seven
• SHU moves to 7-4 at home in the 2019-20 season and 5-3 against NEC competition

Next Game

Sacred Heart will head to Smithfield, R.I. to face conference foe Bryant on March 2nd at 7 p.m.