Caldwell Shoots by #9 Stonehill in Second Half, 57-50

Three Chargers notch double-doubles and Skyhawks shoot 20% in the second half

Boxscore 

Junior Kristen McWhirter posted 15 points, five rebounds and two assists for the Skyhawks in tonight's home opener.

EASTON, Mass. (November 15, 2009) - Caldwell College saw three different players post double-doubles and held Stonehill College, ranked ninth in the USA Today/ESPN/Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Division II poll, to just 20-percent shooting in the second half to claim a 57-50 victory in non-conference women's basketball action at Merkert Gymnasium this evening.

Three Caldwell players posted double-doubles, led by freshman Torey Jones (North Providence, R.I./LaSalle) with 15 points and ten rebounds to go with four assists and two blocked shots. Sophomore Kaitlyn Lambert (Cumberland, R.I./Cumberland) added 14 points, on 7-of-10 shooting from the field, and a game-high 11 rebounds, while freshman Gillian Felix (Mahopac, N.Y./Mahopac) contributed ten points and ten boards.

Senior Kelsey Simonds (Middleboro, Mass./Cardinal Spellman) led Stonehill with 14 points on 6-of-9 shooting from the field and nine rebounds in 22 minutes before fouling out. Junior Kristen McWhirter (Melvin Village, N.H./New Hampton Prep) was the only other Skyhawk in double-figures with 13 points, five rebounds and two assists.

Caldwell finished shooting 39-percent (23-for-59) from the field, including 46.2% (12-26) in the second half, and dominated the glass with a 48-33 rebounding advantage - pulling down 17 offensive boards. Stonehill finished shooting 34.5-percent (19-for-55) from the field after making just 20% (6-30) in the second half. The Skyhawks made just 2-of-12 (16.7-percent) three-pointers, going 0-for-7 over the final 20 minutes.

Caldwell erased a seven-point deficit (42-35) after a pair of McWhirter free-throws with 12:31 to play by holding Stonehill scoreless over the next three minutes to gain its first lead of the second half (43-42) on a layup by junior Kirsty Leedham (Ellesmere Port, England) with 9:25 left. In fact, the Skyhawks went without a field goal for nearly ten minutes during an overall Cougars run of 16-6 that saw the visitors gain a seven point lead (51-44) after an Ebony Thomas (Jersey City, N.J./Marist) layup with 3:59 left. Simonds broke the slump with a layup to pull Stonehill within five (51-46) with 3:44 remaining.

McWhirter followed with a basket for Stonehill and the Skyhawks were back within one (51-50) after two Simonds free-throws with 1:53 to play. However, Caldwell held the hosts right there and Leedham sealed the win with a jumper and four free-throws in the final minute.

Caldwell also gained the early advantage in the contest, jumping out to an 11-point lead (13-2) after a Jones free-throw 5:48 into the contest. Stonehill answered with a 13-2 run of its own to knot the score at 15-15 after a steal and layup by sophomore Tania Williams (Worcester, Mass./Burncoat) with 9:27 left in the half.

Stonehill pulled away slightly in the final 72-seconds of the half, closing the stanza with a 6-0 run to break the sixth tie of the opening 20 minutes behind four points by freshman Anna Griffin (Fairfax, Va./W.T. Woodson) to hold a 32-26 lead at the intermission. It was another 6-0 run that put the Skyhawks up seven (42-25) with 12:18 remaining before Caldwell mounted its comeback.

Stonehill (2-2, 0-0 NE-10) is back in action on Friday when it takes on Concordia (N.Y.) College at the Courtyard Marriott Classic, hosted by Assumption College, at 5:30 p.m. The Skyhawks return home on Tuesday, November 24, to host Merrimack College in their Northeast-10 Conference opener at 5:30 p.m. Caldwell (1-0, 0-0 CACC) visits UMass Lowell next Saturday at 3 p.m.