CAROLINA, Puerto Rico – The Sacred Heart University women's basketball ended the 2023 Discover Puerto Rico Classic with a hard-fought 69-58 defeat at the hands of undefeated UCF on Saturday night at the Coliseo Guillermo Angulo in Carolina, Puerto Rico.

Records:
Sacred Heart: 4-3
UCF: 6-0
 
Top Performers:
Amelia Wood: 17 points, 3 rebounds
Ny'Ceara Pryor: 15 points, 4 rebounds, 5 steals, 2 assists
Sajada Bonner: 11 points, 2 rebounds, 2 steals
 
How It Happened:
The first quarter was very close as the lead traded hands seven times in the frame. The Pioneers were up by as much as three, 9-6, following an Amelia Wood 3-pointer and a Sierra Johnson free throw. The Knights' largest advantage was four points, 15-11, at the end of the quarter. 

SHU scored four of the first six points of the second to cut the deficit to two, 17-15, with 8:29 left. Back-to-back threes by UCF widened the margin to eight, its biggest of the quarter. The margin hovered around eight for the rest of the frame, with SHU getting as close as four, 28-24, following an and one from Johnson. The Pios ultimately went into the halftime break trailing by seven, 34-27. 

The Pioneers burst out of the gates to start the third, taking a 41-39 lead by the 6:55 mark. The 14-5 run featured 3-pointers from both Ny'Ceara Pryor and Sajada Bonner, while Wood scored four consecutive points on free throws following a VCU foul and a Knights' technical. Unfortunately for Sacred Heart, UCF answered by ending the quarter on a 16-5 run to take a 55-46 lead into the fourth. 

SHU continued to fight in the fourth quarter, getting as close as eight, 60-52, following an Emma Kirby jumper with 6:33 left. However, the Pioneers did not get any closer than that, falling to the Knights by a 69-58 final score to end the Discover Puerto Rico Classic. 

Wood led the way for the SHU offense with 17 points. Pryor played 38 minutes and finished second on the team with 15 points, four rebounds, two assists and five steals. Pryor extended her streak of scoring 10+ points in every game this season. Bonner also crossed double-figures with 11 points, two rebounds and two steals. Kirby started her first career game tonight and finished with four points, six rebounds and two assists. 

Up Next:
The Pioneers return to Connecticut to play in-state foe Fairfield on Wednesday, Nov. 29, at 7 p.m. The midweek contest will be one of two for SHU that will air on SNY.