FAIRFIELD, CONN.— A slow start was just too much for the Sacred Heart University women's basketball team to overcome. The Pioneers came up just short against Army, 76-68, on Sunday.
 
Records
Sacred Heart: 2-2
Army: 1-2
 
Top Performers
Nikki Johnson: 15 points, 2 rebounds, 5 assists
Carly Stroemel: 14 points, 6 rebounds, 2 blocks
Adrianne Hagood: 12 points, 2 assists, 1 steal

Up Next 
Sacred Heart travels to Monmouth on December 2. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. from Oceanfirst Bank Center.
 
Of Note
The Black Knights went on a 7-0 run midway through the first quarter to establish a 20-10 lead. The Pioneers chipped away in the second quarter and went on their own run. Olivia Tucker's three-pointer cut the margin to 36-35 with 1:13 left in the half. Army went into the half with a 39-27 lead.
 
The Black Knights went up 69-60 at the 4:09 mark of the fourth quarter. An Adrianne Hagood three-pointer and Sonia Smith layup cut the deficit to 71-68 with 2:07 remaining, but that's as close as SHU would get the rest of the game.
 
The Pioneers scored 27 points off 26 turnovers, with 17 off 19 in the first half, but Army had the counter inside. The Black Knights produced 40 points in the paint and notched 14 second chance points off 12 offensive rebounds.
 
Army's advantage inside also led it to shooting 55.8 percent (29-of-52) from the floor and 8-of-17 (47.1 percent) from three-point range. 
 
Nikki Johnson led with 15 points (including a perfect 2-of-2 from the free throw line) and matched her season-high with five assists for the third time this season. Carly Stroemel was second with 14 points while grabbing six rebounds and notching two blocks. Adrianne Hagood tallied 12 points with a perfect 6-of-6 from the free throw line.