Merrimack visits Sacred Heart after Melaschenko's 22-point outing

Merrimack Warriors (15-10, 12-4 MAAC) at Sacred Heart Pioneers (12-13, 10-6 MAAC)

Fairfield, Connecticut; Thursday, 7 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Merrimack plays Sacred Heart after Lydia Melaschenko scored 22 points in Merrimack's 79-60 victory against the Siena Saints.

The Pioneers are 7-5 on their home court. Sacred Heart is ninth in the MAAC with 11.6 assists per game led by Missy Nuku averaging 2.3.

The Warriors are 12-4 in MAAC play. Merrimack is 5-8 against opponents with a winning record.

Sacred Heart is shooting 39.0% from the field this season, 0.6 percentage points higher than the 38.4% Merrimack allows to opponents. Merrimack has shot at a 41.0% clip from the field this season, 0.2 percentage points higher than the 40.8% shooting opponents of Sacred Heart have averaged.

The Pioneers and Warriors match up Thursday for the first time in conference play this season.

Melaschenko is averaging 12.5 points for the Warriors. Joi Williams is averaging 1.2 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Pioneers: 6-4, averaging 59.4 points, 31.1 rebounds, 11.4 assists, 7.3 steals and 2.9 blocks per game while shooting 39.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 60.4 points per game.

Warriors: 7-3, averaging 69.7 points, 35.5 rebounds, 16.2 assists, 6.9 steals and 4.7 blocks per game while shooting 42.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 61.9 points.

___