NEW BRITAIN, Conn. (Interstat) — The Sacred Heart Pioneers secured their first win of the season Thursday night, fending off a late push from the Central Connecticut Blue Devils for a 74-64 victory in a women’s NCAA Division I basketball game at William H. Detrick Gymnasium.

Sacred Heart, now 1-2, built a significant early advantage with a dominant first quarter, outscoring Central Connecticut 24-18. The Pioneers’ offense, however, went cold in the second period, managing only nine points as the Blue Devils chipped away at the lead. Central Connecticut’s 14-point quarter cut the halftime deficit to just three points.

The game remained tight after halftime, with Sacred Heart holding a 48-42 lead heading into the final quarter. The Pioneers found their rhythm again in the fourth, erupting for 26 points to pull away and seal the win, dropping Central Connecticut to 0-3 on the season.

Sacred Heart’s offense was carried by a double-double from Amelia Wood. The 6-foot sophomore from Wynantskill, New York, played 28 minutes and finished with 20 points and 10 rebounds. She was complemented by Nalyce Dudley, a 5-10 guard from Norwich, Connecticut, who added 15 points and nine rebounds. Sophie Nascimento also chipped in 15 points for the Pioneers.

Central Connecticut was led by Kiyah Lewis, who scored a team-high 18 points and grabbed seven rebounds in 34 minutes. Lucia Noin, a 6-foot guard from Santander, Spain, contributed 13 points and five rebounds for the Blue Devils.

While the final score showed a 10-point margin, the game was statistically closer in several categories. Both teams finished with eight assists and eight steals. Sacred Heart’s advantage came from a more efficient offensive performance, shooting 43 percent from the floor compared to Central Connecticut’s 36 percent. The Pioneers also capitalized on second-chance opportunities, securing 18 offensive rebounds which led to a 36-26 edge in points in the paint.

An announced crowd of 607 watched as Sacred Heart controlled the opening tip and scored the game’s first points on a layup by Wood just 10 seconds into the contest, setting the tone for their fast start. The win snaps a two-game losing streak for the Pioneers, who fell to Iowa State and NJIT to open the season. Central Connecticut, which lost its previous games to Providence and Bryant, continues to search for its first victory.

Sacred Heart travels to face Georgetown on Tuesday. Central Connecticut returns to action at home against Massachusetts-Lowell on Saturday.