COLUMBIA, S.C. – Sacred Heart University women's basketball's hope for a second straight NCAA Tournament victory fell just short and its win streak came to an end at 15 games in a hard-fought 49-42 loss to Presbyterian at the First Four tonight inside Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, S.C.

Ny'Ceara Pryor led the way for the Pioneers with 12 points, seven rebounds, four assists and a season-high seven steals. Sierra Johnson also crossed double figures with 10 points and five boards. Nalyce Dudley almost tallied a double-double with nine points and 10 rebounds. 

Records:
Sacred Heart: 24-10
Presbyterian: 21-14 

Top Performers:
Ny'Ceara Pryor: 12 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 7 steals
Sierra Johnson: 10 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists
Nalyce Dudley: 9 points, 10 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, 1 block

How It Happened:
The Blue Hose scored the game's first four points before a 7-2 SHU run put the Pioneers up 7-6. The game remained close for the rest of the opening quarter, with the Blue Hose taking a 14-9 lead into the second. Johnson led the way for Sacred Heart in a defensive first with four points. 

Presbyterian strengthened its lead in the second quarter, taking the frame 15-8. Olivia Tucker led the way for the Pioneers with three points in the frame, as SHU went into halftime trailing 29-17. 

The Pioneers started to flip the script in the third quarter, with a 9-0 run midway through the frame, cutting the margin to one possession. The run featured a Tucker triple and two straight Johnson buckets as the Blue Hose's lead shrunk to 33-30. Pryor also started to warm up with six points in the third. 

Trailing 35-30 at the start of the fourth, the Pios continued to rally with a quick Dudley basket in the first 36 seconds of the frame to cut the margin back to three. Presbyterian rebuilt its advantage back to eight before a 5-0 Sacred Heart run set the margin back at three, 43-40, with 2:42 left. 

Unfortunately for the Pioneers, the Blue Hose hit their clutch free throws. Pryor, who ended up with a team-high 12 points, nailed a pair of free throws with 27.8 seconds left to make it 45-42 before seeing a pair at the other end up the margin to five. SHU did find the basket after that, as Presbyterian took the 49-42 win.