FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Sacred Heart University women's basketball team will celebrate National Girls and Women in Sports Day (NGWSD) on Saturday, Jan. 25, with a noon matchup against Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) foe Niagara at the Pitt Center. 

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OPENING TIP

• The Pioneers return to the Pitt Center on Saturday, Jan. 25, for a noon start against Niagara. 
• At Saturday's game, Sacred Heart will celebrate National Girls and Women in Sports Day (NGWSD) with different activities before and during the game.
• The Pios last suffered a 67-53 home setback to Canisius on Thursday evening at the Pitt Center. 
• A hot start by the Golden Griffins doomed the Pioneers, as SHU kept the game close after the first quarter. 
• SHU cut a double-digit margin to single figures multiple times, but Canisius was always ready with a run to keep the contest out of reach. 
• Ny'Ceara Pryor did her part to keep the Pioneers in Thursday's bout, finishing with a game-high 20 points and six steals. 
• Nalyce Dudley and Emma Kirby also cleared 10 points tonight with 11 and 10, respectively. 
• Sierra Johnson tallied nine points, four assists and three rebounds in a strong effort.

LAST TIME OUT
The Pioneers fell at home to Canisius Thursday evening, 67-53. The Golden Griffins got off to a hot start in the first period, taking the frame 24-12. The Pioneers kept the game close for the final three quarters, keeping that margin to 43-41, but the early damage was too much to overcome. Ny'Ceara Pryor was outstanding in the contest, scoring a game-high 20 points with six steals. Nalyce Dudley and Emma Kirby also cleared 10 points tonight with 11 and 10, respectively. Sierra Johnson tallied nine points, four assists and three rebounds in a strong effort. 

1,500 CLUB
With 23 points on Saturday, Pryor became the eighth player in program history to reach 1,500 career points, the first since Hannah Kimmel reached the milestone in 2017. With 20 points on Thursday, she passed Kaitlin Sowinski (1,541) for seventh place on the all-time scorer leaderboard with 1,542 and is nine shy of tying Alisa Apo (1,551) for sixth. The next milestone for Pryor to reach would be to become the second player in program history to score 2,000 points, joining Amanda Pape (2,045) for this rarefied accomplishment. 

SWIPER KEEPS SWIPING
Pryor continues to be one of the best defenders in the country, as she tied a program record with 10 steals against the Great Danes on Nov. 16. She continues to be one of the best defenders in the country, as she ranks fourth in DI with 3.71 steals per game and sixth in total steals with 63.

SCOUTING NIAGARA

• The Purple Eagles are still eying their first MAAC win of the season at 0-8 and are 1-15 on the season. 
• Niagara's one win came against Division II Bloomsburg, 81-60. 
• The Purple Eagles' closest conference contest was a 65-57 loss at Siena, while the remaining seven losses came by more than 15 or more points. 
• Sophomore guard Safiatu Kolliegbo leads the way for Niagara on both ends of the court, pacing the team with 13.9 points and 2.5 steals per game. 
• Kolliegbo scored a season-high 27 points against Siena and had 20 in the team's most recent game against Marist on Thursday. 
• Junior guard Marlie Dickerson is second on the team with 11.2 points per game and leads the Purple Eagles with 4.3 rebounds per game. 

SERIES HISTORY

• The Pioneers will meet the Purple Eagles for the first time in both programs' histories on Saturday. 
• Niagara is one of five teams SHU will play for the first time this season, joining Post, Coppin State and new MAAC foes Marist and Canisius.