Preview: Sacred Heart Faces Mount Saint Mary’s in Key NEC Matchup EMMITSBURG, Md. (Interstat) — Two teams jockeying for position in the Northeast Conference standings will meet Thursday when the Mount Saint Mary’s Mountaineers host the Sacred Heart Pioneers in a women’s basketball game at Knott Arena. The matchup features teams with nearly identical records. Mount Saint Mary’s enters at 13-14 overall, while Sacred Heart arrives at 12-15. The game is a quick rematch of a Feb. 7 contest won 68-63 in overtime by the Mountaineers on the Pioneers’ home floor. Sacred Heart will look to avenge that loss and snap a two-game skid, having fallen to Merrimack and Quinnipiac in its last two outings. The Pioneers are led by forward Emma Kirby, who is coming off a 13-point, nine-rebound performance in the loss to Quinnipiac. Over her last seven games, Kirby is averaging 10.7 points and 5.7 rebounds. Mount Saint Mary’s also seeks to rebound from an overtime defeat, a 68-63 loss at Canisius on Feb. 21. In that game, guard Kayla Lindsey posted 11 points, seven rebounds, three assists and two blocks. Her production has been variable, but she was a key contributor in the team’s recent win at Niagara with seven points in just eight minutes. The Mountaineers’ victory earlier this month over Sacred Heart was a tight affair, suggesting another close contest is likely. Both teams have struggled for consistency in February, with each posting a 2-4 record in their last six games. The game could hinge on interior play and second-chance opportunities. Sacred Heart’s Kirby and Amelia Wood, who had seven points and seven rebounds against Quinnipiac, will battle Mount Saint Mary’s Alana Powell and Zaria Harleaux, who combined for 22 points and 11 rebounds in the last meeting. Following this contest, Sacred Heart will travel to face Fairfield on Saturday. Mount Saint Mary’s will remain at home to host Rider the same day. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST on Thursday, Feb. 26, at Knott Arena.