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Fairfield, CT -- Sacred Heart is going dancing once again.
Completing the most dominant run in NEC Women's Basketball Tournament history, the top-seeded Pioneers defended their conference title in style, coasting to a 69-48, wire-to-wire victory over second-seeded Le Moyne at the Pitt Center in Fairfield, CT.
The NEC Tournament crown was the fifth for the program and today's win was the 15th straight for the Pioneers, who currently possess the nation's seventh-longest win streak heading into the NCAA Tournament.
Sparked by yet another stellar all-around effort from NEC Tournament MVP Ny'Ceara Pryor, Sacred Heart (24-9) won its three playoff games by a 27.7 point average margin, the largest in the 38-year history of the tournament.
Additionally, Sacred Heart became the fourth different school to repeat as NEC champs, joining Saint Francis U (3x repeat winners), Mount St. Mary's (2x) and Robert Morris (2x).
In the rubber match between the NEC's two most dominant teams this season, Sacred Heart delivered the knockout blow early.
Coming out in a full court press, the Pioneers forced nine Le Moyne (18-14) first quarter turnovers and never let the Dolphins get comfortable in their offensive sets.
Sacred Heart built a 17-8 lead after the first 10 minutes, then held the Dolphins to single digits again in the second quarter to carry a 32-16 lead into intermission. The Pios shot 46.7 percent in the first half, while limiting Le Moyne to 26.9 percent from the floor.
Pryor poured in 11 first half points to lead all scorers, while Le Moyne all-star Lytoya Baker paced the Dolphins with seven points on 3-3 shooting.
The Pios didn't let up in the third quarter.
Amelia Wood, an All-NEC third team selection, splashed back-to-back three-pointers, then converted a layup to balloon the lead to 25 as Sacred Heart headed into the final quarter with a 50-24 advantage.
Sacred Heart went ahead by as many as 30 points in the fourth before pulling its starters late in the game, much to the delight of the raucous crowd.
The Pios held Le Moyne to 29.3 percent shooting for the game and generated 18 turnovers.
Pryor finished with 18 points, six rebounds, six assists and five steals in a command performance on both ends of the court. For the tourney, she supplied the Pioneers with 23.0 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 5.3 apg and 4.3 spg.
The superlatives didn't end there.
Pryor became the first player in NEC history to repeat as both NEC Player of the Year and Tournament MVP. The Baltimore, MD native also established a new SHU single-season scoring record with 624 points.
Wood added 15 points and was tabbed to the All-Tourney squad. Sajada Bonner was the third SHU player in double digits with 10 points.
Baker, who was also named to the All-Tournament team, and Kaia Goode each scored 11 points to lead Le Moyne.
Le Moyne has accepted an invitation to compete in the WNIT. The 48-team bracket will be revealed on Monday.
As the NEC's auto qualifier, Sacred Heart will learn its NCAA opponent during tonight's Selection Show set to air live on ESPN at 8:00 pm.
NEC All-Tournament Team
Ny'Ceara Pryor, SHU - MVP
Amelia Wood, SHU
Lytoya Baker, LEM
Teneisia Brown, FDU
Kaylee Thomas, MC