Baltimore, MD - - -Junior forward Brooke Kelly scored 17 points and was one of four Sacred Heart players in double-figures as the visiting Pioneers defeated the UMBC Retrievers, 70-66, Monday evening in a Northeast Conference contest at the UMBC RAC Arena. Sacred Heart (9-7, 5-2 NEC) scored the first eight points of the second half to extend their 40-37 halftime advantage to 11 points, 48-37 with 15:58 remaining in the contest. UMBC made several runs at the Pioneers but could never get any closer than the final deficit of four points. UMBC was within five points, 59-54, with 7:15 remaining after a jumper by junior guard Jessie Brown, however Sacred Heart answered with an 11-4 spurt to reclaim a 68-58 advantage with 5:07 remaining. UMBC outscored the Pioneers 8-2 the rest of the way, but it wasn't enough to overcome the visitors. The opening half featured five ties and five lead changes. UMBC took their final lead of the game at 17-16 on a Brown lay-up with 11:01 remaining. The Pioneers then went on a 10-2 run to grab a 26-19 advantage with 7:06 left. UMBC would eventually even the contest one last time at 33-33 on a three-point goal by freshman guard Matea Pender with 2:41 remaining. The Pioneeers shot forty-one (25-for-61) percent from the floor and were 15-18 (83%) from the foul line. Junior forward Brooke Rutnik (15 points), freshman guard Allie Bagnell (11 points), and junior guard Ashley Durmer (10 points) all posted double-figures. UMBC, who shot forty-eight percent from the floor (25-for-52), were led by Pender, who had 17 points on 5-for-10 shooting. Junior forward Yinka Bada added 11 points and 6 rebounds.