SMITHFIELD, RI – The Sacred Heart University women's basketball team is becoming a defensive juggernaut going into the final portion of the Northeast Conference schedule. The Pioneers won their fifth game in a row, 58-44, at Bryant on Sunday. 

Records:
Bryant: 5-7, 3-5 NEC
Sacred Heart: 7-5, 7-3 NEC

Top Performers:
Jayla Davis (SHU): 17 points, 6 rebounds, 2 steals
Carly Stroemel (SHU) 12 points, 11 rebounds
Adrianne Hagood (SHU): 12 points 

Up Next:
Sacred Heart comes home to host St. Francis Brooklyn on February 18-19.

Of Note:
Sacred Heart took control of the game in the second quarter by limiting Bryant to a half dozen points. The Pioneers forced the Bulldogs into 21 turnovers and a 30.2 field goal percentage. SHU held the league's leading scorer Brooke Bjelko under her 17.1 points per game average in both contests. 

The Bulldogs had a 16-14 lead after the first quarter, but the Pioneers stepped up the defense in the second 10 minutes. Juliette Gordon made a layup at the 8:23 mark of the second quarter to give the host a 16-15 edge, but SHU would bottle up Bryant's offense for the six minutes to take a 21-16 lead on a Carly Stroemel basket. 

Sacred Heart maintained its advantage for the entire second half with the Bulldogs not mustering enough offense in the final 20 minutes. Bryant would only get as close as four points, 29-25, the rest of the game.

Three Pioneers nearly outscored the entire Bryant squad. Jayla Davis led all players with 17 points to go along with six rebounds and a pair of steals. Adrianne Hagood and Stroemel were next with 12 points. Stroemel tied her career-high with 11 rebounds to record her first collegiate double-double.

Davis helped ice the game down the stretch as she went 6-for-6 from the free throw line in the final minute. Overall, the Pioneers were 17-of-23 from the charity stripe.