NEW BRITAIN, Conn. (Interstat) — In a matchup of teams seeking their first Division I win of the young season, the Sacred Heart Pioneers used a dominant first quarter and a resilient fourth to secure a 74-64 victory over the Central Connecticut Blue Devils in a women’s basketball game Thursday night at William H. Detrick Gymnasium.

The Pioneers, who evened their record at 1-2, exploded for 24 points in the opening period, capitalizing on early Blue Devils miscues to build a lead they would never fully relinquish. Central Connecticut, which fell to 0-3, chipped away throughout the middle quarters but could never overtake the visitors, who pulled away late with a 26-point fourth-quarter performance.

Sacred Heart’s offense was fueled by efficiency, scoring 74 points on 70 possessions for an offensive rating of 105.5. Central Connecticut, by contrast, managed just 64 points on 72 possessions, an offensive rating of 88.5. The Pioneers’ ability to generate second chances was a decisive factor, as they corralled 18 offensive rebounds to the Blue Devils’ 10, leading to a 36-26 advantage in points in the paint.

Amelia Wood led all scorers for Sacred Heart, recording a double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds in 28 minutes of action. Nalyce Dudley of Norwich, Connecticut, just missed a double-double of her own, contributing 15 points and nine rebounds. The Pioneers’ backcourt also delivered, with Sophie Nascimento scoring 15 points and Sierra Johnson adding 12.

Central Connecticut was paced by Kiyah Lewis, who finished with 18 points and seven rebounds. Lucia Noin, from Santander, Spain, provided 13 points and five rebounds, while Jessica Farrell added 10 points.

The game’s trajectory was set from the opening tip. Sacred Heart’s Emma Kirby won the jump ball, leading to a quick layup from Wood just 10 seconds into the contest. The Pioneers forced multiple early turnovers and built a commanding lead, ending the first quarter up 24-18 despite a late push from the Blue Devils.

Central Connecticut tightened its defense in the second quarter, holding Sacred Heart to just nine points. The Blue Devils outscored the Pioneers 14-9 in the period, cutting the deficit to a single point at halftime, 33-32.

The third quarter was a defensive struggle, with Sacred Heart managing 15 points and Central Connecticut held to just 10. The Pioneers took a 48-42 lead into the final frame.

In the fourth quarter, the Pioneers found their offensive rhythm once more, consistently answering any Blue Devils rally. The game remained within two possessions for much of the period until Sacred Heart sealed the victory at the free-throw line, with Wood and Nascimento combining for several key makes in the final minute.

Both teams struggled from the floor, with Sacred Heart shooting 23 for 54 and Central Connecticut going 20 for 55. The Pioneers attempted 21 three-pointers, making five, while the Blue Devils were 4 for 13 from beyond the arc. Free throws were a significant part of the story, with Sacred Heart attempting 34 and making 23, compared to Central Connecticut’s 20-for-28 performance from the line.

Sacred Heart committed 18 turnovers, which Central Connecticut converted into 14 points. The Pioneers were more opportunistic, scoring 20 points off of 14 Blue Devils turnovers. Both teams finished with eight assists and eight steals.

The announced attendance was 607. Sacred Heart next travels to face Georgetown on Tuesday, Nov. 18. Central Connecticut returns to action at home against Massachusetts-Lowell on Saturday, Nov. 15.