#19 Gannon Tops #9 Stonehill, 87-70

Five score in double-figures as Golden Knights shoot 57-percent for day two win at Disney Division II East Coast Tip-Off Classic

Boxscore 

Junior Emily Rousseau led Stonehill with 15 points, six assists and five rebounds today against 19th-ranked Gannon.

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (November 7, 2009) - Gannon University, ranked 19^th in the ESPN/USA Today/WBCA Division II preseason poll, shot 57-percent from the field and featured five scorers in double-figures in claiming an 87-70 victory over 9^th-ranked Stonehill College on day two of the 2009 Disney Division II East Coast Tip-Off Classic at The Milk House today.

Senior Carrie Nolan (Girard, Pa./Girard) led five Gannon players in double-figures with a game-high 18 points on 7-of-11 shooting from the field, including 4-for-7 from three-point range, to go with five rebounds, three assists and two steals. Classmate Brittany Tabron (Canton, Ohio/Canton Central Catholic) posted a double-double with 13 points and a game-high 11 rebounds (seven offensive), four assists and four steals.

Senior Kim Vargas (Sterling, Va./Broad Run) collected 14 points, shooting 6-of-9 from the field and 2-for-3 from long distance, five rebounds, four assists and three steals, while classmate Kristina Freeman (Yonkers, N.Y./Pelham Memorial) contributed 11 points. Junior Julie Kleber (Suffern, N.Y./Suffern) chipped in ten points and four rebounds off the bench.

Junior Emily Rousseau (Biddeford, Maine/Biddeford) led Stonehill with 15 points, six assists and five rebounds, while classmate Kristen McWhirter (Melvin Village, N.H./New Hampton Prep) also netted 15 points on 6-of-11 shooting from the field, including 3-for-5 from three-point range, to go with three assists. Senior Megan Methven (Corning, N.Y./Corning East) contributed 13 points, aided by 3-of-6 shooting from beyond the arc, a team-high seven rebounds and four assists off the bench. Classmate Kelsey Simonds (Middleboro, Mass./Cardinal Spellman) chipped in 11 points and three boards.

Gannon finished shooting 56.9-percent (37-for-65) from the field, including 11-for-21 (52.4%) from three-point range, and was a blistering 64.3% (18-28) in the second half - 5-for-9 (55.6%) from beyond the arc. Stonehill made 46.7-percent (28-of-60) of its shots from the field, but were held to 37.9% (11-29) in the second half.

Gannon led nearly from beginning to end and held an 11-point lead (37-26) after a three by sophomore Caitlyn Lowe (Gettysburg, Pa./Gettysburg) with 5:10 left in the first half. Stonehill drew within three (40-37) after a Methven three with 1:57 left in the half and trailed by five (44-39) at the break.

Gannon opened the second half with eight-straight points to open a 13-point cushion (52-39) after a Nolan three 2:08 into the second. A Rousseau jumper pulled Stonehill within nine (52-43) with 16:15 remaining, but that would prove to be as close as the Skyhawks would get the rest of the way. The Golden Knights lead was 16 (71-55) after a Vargas layup with 8:54 remaining and 17 (81-64) after a Vargas jumper with 4:43 to play.

Stonehill (1-1, 0-0 NE-10) will close out the Disney Tip-Off Classic tomorrow when it faces the University of North Alabama at 2:30 p.m. The Skyhawks open their home schedule next Sunday, November 15, when they host Caldwell College in Merkert Gymnasium at 5 p.m. The game was moved back three hours from its original start time to accommodate the NCAA Division II Field Hockey Championships which are being held on campus that day. Gannon (2-0, 0-0 PSAC) will face another Northeast-10 Conference member Southern New Hampshire University tomorrow at 10 a.m.