FAIRFIELD, CT – The Merrimack College Women's Basketball team dropped their NEC opener to Sacred Heart in Fairfield.
The Basics
Score: Sacred Heart 65, Merrimack 51
Records: Sacred Heart (7-8, 0-0), Merrimack (3-11, 0-0)
Location: Pitt Center / Fairfield, CT
Rapid Recap
This game was a battle between the top two teams in the preseason NEC poll. It was a very forgettable start for Merrimack as they went down 14-0 and failed to score a single point until the 2:06 mark of the first quarter. They would end up coming out of the quarter down fourteen at 18-4. Credit to the Warriors who showed no quit in this one. They would come into the second quarter and outplay, outscore, and completely outmatch the Pioneers. They would cut the lead to just seven going into the half behind some great shooting from the pair of All-NEC guards Jayme DeCesare and Kaylee Thomas.
The second half started with Merrimack cutting their lead to the lowest it had been since the first quarter at 30-25. After that point it was all Pioneers. They continued to extend their lead as the Warrior offense struggled. Merrimack would fall behind as much as fourteen but entered the fourth down 52-41. The fourth quarter was more of the same for Merrimack as both offenses seemed stagnant and each Warrior basket was met with another Sacred Heart answer. The Warriors would end up falling 65-41 in the first NEC matchup of the year.
Notes and Numbers
Jayme DeCesare led the Warriors with 16 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists
Amaya Staton secured a double double with 10 points and 14 rebounds
Kaylee Thomas played in her first game of the year with and knocked down two threes in 18 minutes played
Up Next
Merrimack will be back on the floor on January 8th for a NEC battle against FDU in Teaneck, NJ. Tip off is set for 7:00 PM.
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