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Hackensack, NJ -- It was an all-time performance by a special player on the brightest stage.
Riding the play of decorated freshman guard Ny'Ceara Pryor, second-seeded Sacred Heart pulled away down the stretch to beat top-seeded FDU, 72-60, and capture the program's first NEC women's basketball title since 2012 and fourth in program history.
Before a frenzied throng at FDU's Stratis Arena, the NEC's top two teams battled to a dead heat for 35+ minutes in a high-level, entertaining affair before Pryor was able to assert her will and lead the Pios to their third straight win over the Knights this season.
Pryor, the NEC Player, Rookie and Defensive Player of the Year, capped off a sensational tournament debut with yet another stat stuffer for Sacred Heart (18-13). Scoring 20 points for the third time in as many postseason contests, she completed the double-double with 11 rebounds and added seven assists, two steals and a block.
During the three-game stretch, Pryor, who was named the NEC Tournament MVP, averaged 21.0 points, 10.0 boards, 6.0 assists and 2.3 steals per contest.
“For me it was a lot of pressure,” said Pryor. “We all said it was just one game...we played hard for 40 minutes. We lost the lead, but going down we really fought. We’ve been in that situation before and I think we just took our time with it and made every possession matter. I think that was the biggest thing, staying together. We fought for 40 hard minutes.”
Sunday’s championship game could not have been written any better.
In what proved to be a slugfest right out of the opening tip, Sacred Heart delivered a 6-0 run over the final 1:12 on consecutive buckets by Olivia Tucker, Sierra Johnson and Pryor to take a 21-14 advantage after the first quarter.
The Pios, who finished the first half shooting 64.3 from the field, led by five (40-35) at intermission.
Pryor was already on her way to posting her fifth double-double of the season — and second of the NEC Tournament — in the first half with 10 points, eight boards and five dimes at the break.
However, FDU held SHU to just eight third quarter points and took a precarious 49-48 edge heading into the final quarter behind an eight-point period from Dahomee Forgues.
With 8:45 remaining, All-NEC first teamer Chloe Wilson forced the game’s fourth tie — and seventh lead change — on an unconventional three-point play that put FDU (24-7) in front, 52-51. The Knights continued to roll, as rookie Ella Fajardo would extend the advantage to three with a jumper 29 seconds later.
That’s where the key to Sacred Heart’s success all season — their stifling and in-your-face pressure — came into play.
Forcing five miscues over a five-minute stretch while holding the Knights to just three shot attempts, Sacred Heart quickly deflated the air out of the home team’s rally, using a 14-2 run to take its largest lead of the contest at 65-56.
Tucker contributed four points to that stretch, and played a role in a momentum turning four-point swing. After scoring the go-ahead bucket on a 12-footer with 3:12 remaining, Amelia Wood stole the ball in the backcourt on the ensuing possession, converted a layup and the Pioneers were off and running.
And of course it was Pryor who put the icing on the cake with back-to-back buckets with 2:25 and 1:14 left to play.
“Ny’Ceara’s ceiling is so high,” said Mannetti. “I feel grateful I get to coach a player like her. She is a program changer and she is so humble. She wants nothing to do with credit… she’s a once in a lifetime kid for me to be able to coach.”
FDU was led Wilson’s 19 points and seven rebounds. She earned All-Tournament recognition, along with NEC second teamer Sierra DeAngelo, who had 15 points.
The Knights will now move on to compete in the WNIT after winning its second straight regular season championship and compiling a school-record 24 wins.
Sacred Heart finished with a 21-5 edge in fast break points, a 42-26 advantage in points in the paint and +12 rebounding margin. The Pioneers shot 50.0 percent from the field and held FDU to 37.3 percent shooting.
Pryor was joined on the All-Tournament Team by Tucker, who came up big for the Pios in Sunday’s title game with 16 points and four rebounds.
St. Francis Brooklyn’s Sarah Bandoma rounded out the 2023 All-Tournament Team.
“I am so grateful to be sitting here in this position,” said Sacred Heart head coach Jessica Mannetti. “FDU is so tough. They are an opponent that we took a lot of time to prepare for. I could not be happier with how our team executed our game plan, how well they (displayed) composure and connected with team basketball today, and how they fought hard for 40 minutes and weathered the storm to be able to come up with this really big opportunity for us to participate in the NCAA Tournament. This is unbelievable. It’s been 10 years in the making.”
SHU previously won NEC Tournament crowns in 2006, 2009 and 2012.
The Pios will learn their NCAA opponent during tonight’s NCAA Selection Show, which airs at 8 pm on ESPN.
“I think it’s gonna be an awesome feeling,” said Tucker on hearing SHU’s name during the NCAA Selection Show tonight. “I’m sure we’re going to be together. I don’t knw who we’re going to play yet, but whoever it is, our coaches are going to come up with a great scouting report on them. Going to March Madness, I’m sure that’s been a dream (for lots of us) since we were little girls.”
Pryor concurred.
“One of our coaches told us that we have to play this game for the little girl that always dreamed (of this moment),” added Pryor. “We watched March Madness our whole life growing up playing basketball. I think that’s the biggest thing to be able to watch us (on TV and) punch our ticket.”
2023 NEC WBB All-Tournament Team
Ny'Ceara Pryor, SHU (MVP)
Olivia Tucker, SHU
Sierra DeAngelo, FDU
Chloe Wilson, FDU
Sarah Bandoma, SFBK