FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Sacred Heart University women's basketball team will be playing in the Northeast Conference (NEC) Championship game for a second straight season after defeating fourth-seeded Merrimack 73-41. It will also be playing in March Madness for a second consecutive year.

With the win, the Pioneers also clinched the NEC's automatic NCAA qualifier spot, as Le Moyne, whom SHU will face in the NEC Title game, is ineligible to make the trip in their first season transitioning from Division II to DI. The NCAA selection show will happen on ESPN on Sunday, March 17, at 8 p.m. EST. 

A career performance from two-time NEC Player of the Year Ny'Ceara Pryor led the Pios. The Baltimore, Md., native scored a career-best 28 points to lead all players. Olivia Tucker and Amelia Wood tallied 11 points each. 

Records:
Sacred Heart: 23-9, 15-1 NEC 
Merrimack: 12-19, 8-8 NEC

Top Performers:
Ny'Ceara Pryor: 28 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, 6 steals
Olivia Tucker: 11 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals
Amelia Wood: 11 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 steals, 2 blocks

How It Happened:
After a slow start, the Pioneers caught fire in the middle of the first quarter. SHU turned an 8-3 deficit into a 12-8 lead with a thrilling 9-0 run. Sajada Bonner and Olivia Tucker both hit triples to fuel the surge. 

The story of the first quarter was Sacred Heart's smothering defense, as the Pios held the Warriors to just one point over the final 4:22 of the frame. SHU, on the other hand, scored 17 of the final 18 points to take a 20-9 advantage into the second. Tucker stole the show in the first place, hitting all three of her shots from deep for nine points. 

Merrimack started the second quarter like the first, going on a 10-2 run to cut the margin to three, 22-19, forcing a Pios' timeout. Sacred Heart quickly righted the ship, answering with a 9-2 run to rebuild its lead to 10, 31-21. A desperation 3-pointer from Kaylee Thomas sent the Pios into halftime up 31-24. 

SHU's slow start to quarters stopped in the third, as the Pioneers' 4-0 run brought a quick Merrimack timeout. A three by the Warriors halted Sacred Heart's run, but it was quickly followed by a Pios' 6-0 surge, gave them a 43-27 lead. The highlight of the run was a shot-clock violation but the Warriors never had a good look at the basket. A rally by the Warriors sent the score into the fourth 48-37 SHU. 

The fourth was all Pioneers, as their suffocating defense held Merrimack to just four points in the frame. Sacred Heart forced six turnovers and held Merrimack to 1-for-11 (9.1%) shooting from the floor. Pryor (8), Nalyce Dudley (5) and Amelia Wood (5) all outscored Merrimack in the quarter. 

The incredible defensive effort in the fourth clinched a return trip to the NEC Championship for the Pioneers, as they sealed a 73-41 victory in the semifinals. 

Up Next:
The top-seeded Pioneers will welcome the second-seeded Dolphins of Le Moyne on Sunday, March 17, for the championship game at 12 p.m. at the Pitt Center. More information can be found at sacredheartpioneers.com.