Saturday, February 1, 2025 | 2:00 PM
Draddy Gymnasium | Riverdale, NY
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RIVERDALE, NY - It's been six years in the making, but the Manhattan Jaspers will now face the Sacred Heart Pioneers for the first time since 2018-19, inside Draddy Gymnasium. And as conference foes for the first time as well. The Green and White are coming off its third consecutive loss at nearby Iona University on Thursday. The Jaspers have had a difficult time handling the basketball throughout their skid, compiling 72 total turnovers, and averaging 24 per game. Returning to action on Thursday was junior guard Nitzan Amar after missing the Mount St. Mary's contest with a lower-body injury. The Israeli product produced 15 points and logged two steals. Against Iona, the Jaspers were missing junior guard Brianna Davis, due to an illness. Her status ahead of Saturday is uncertain. The Pioneers, doubled its score against its most recent opponent, the Niagara Purple Eagles with an 86-43 commanding victory with five players logging double-digits. Sacred Heart is led by All-MAAC Preseason selection Ny'Ceara Pryor.
Scouting the Opposition:
•Sacred Heart became the 13th official member of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference on October 23, 2023 with most sports moving to the MAAC.
•The Pioneers are led by 12th year head coach Jessica Mannetti. Throughout Mannetti's tenure as head coach, the Pioneers were NEC Champions the last two years.
•Junior guard Ny'Ceara Pryor highlights the Sacred Heart women's basketball program with an All-MAAC Preseason Selection to open it's tenure in the Edison based conference. Currenly, Pryor leads the team averaging 19 points-per-game.
•Sacred Heart is coming off of a commanding victory over the Niagara Purple Eagle on its National Girls and Women in Sports Day, taking down the northern most MAAC member 86-43 last Saturday.
•Junior guard Amelia Wood has been fantastic in the paint, leading the Pioneers with 14 blocks on the season.
•As a team, Sacred Heart averages the highest amount of offensive rebounds-per-game with 12.7 and 229 overall. The most in the MAAC.
•Defensive ability has been the strong suit for Sacred Heart, dating back to its Northeast Conference days, and continues strong in the MAAC, as the Pioneers average 10.22 steals-per-game. Second best behind Niagara.
•Center Emma Kirby ranks second in the MAAC averaging 55.7 percent from the floor in 18 games played this season.
•The Pioneers were selected to finish fifth in the MAAC Preseason Coaches Poll.
Last Five Meetings:
Sacred Heart Leads 4-3 since '08
12/16/18...................................SHU 74-46
11/15/17.....................................SHU 65-61
12/17/12...................................SHU 55-38
12/30/11..................................MAN 62-50
3/17/11....................................MAN 52-48