PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The Sacred Heart University women's basketball team suffered a 66-35 loss to BIG EAST foe Providence on Saturday evening at the Friars' Alumni Hall in Providence, R.I.

Leading the way for the Pioneers was Sajada Bonner, who scored 13 points for her sixth double-digit scoring performance of the season. With 13 points, the graduate guard is now 18 shy of reaching 1,000 points in her collegiate career. Sierra Johnson also surpassed double-figures with 10 tonight. Ny'Ceara Pryor added another well-rounded performance to her stellar season with eight points, a team-high eight rebounds, four assists and four steals. 

Records:
Sacred Heart: 5-7
Providence: 6-5
 
Top Performers:
Ny'Ceara Pryor: 8 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 steals
Sajada Bonner: 13 points, 6 rebounds
Sierra Johnson: 10 points, 3 rebounds

How It Happened:
The two teams traded buckets over the first 4:34 of tonight's game, with the Friars owning an 8-6 lead in the opening stages. Johnson led SHU early with four of the team's opening six points, while Pryor added the final two. Unfortunately for Sacred Heart, Providence ended the frame on a 10-2 run to take an 18-8 lead into the second quarter. 

Johnson continued to shoot it well to start the second, as she scored SHU's first five points of the frame. Following a Pryor basket through a foul in the paint, the Pioneers cut the margin to nine, 24-15, at the 5:30 mark. A defensive battle ensued over the final 4:30 of the frame, with the Friars scoring eight points in a row. Sacred Heart ended the quarter with an Amelia Wood bucket to set the margin at 15, 32-17, heading into the halftime break. 

The Pioneers put together a couple of runs in the second half but could not make a significant dent in the margin. Providence added to its lead in the half, sealing a 66-35 home win. 

Up Next:
The Pioneers return to the court on Wednesday, Dec. 20, for a road 11 a.m. clash at Vermont.