Box Score #21 Stonehill Shoots Past Southern
N.H., 64-44
52-percent first half
shooting propels Skyhawks to sixth-straight win
Boxscore
Senior Kelsey Simonds posted a double-double effort of 18
points and ten rebounds to go with five blocked shots, including
the 200th of her career, to lead the Skyhawks past Southern New
Hampshire today.
|
EASTON, Mass. (December 5,
2009) - Stonehill College, ranked 21st in this
week's USA Today/ESPN/Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA)
Division II preseason poll, shot 52-percent in the first half to
build a 13-point halftime lead and never looked back in notching
its sixth-straight win with a 64-44 decision over Southern New
Hampshire University in Northeast-10 Conference women's basketball
action at Merkert Gymnasium this afternoon.
Senior center Kelsey
Simonds (Middleboro, Mass./Cardinal Spellman) led the way
again for Stonehill with a double-double effort of 18 points (16
second half) and ten rebounds to go with five blocked shots -
including the 200th of her career - and three steals in
21 minutes. Junior Emily Rousseau (Biddeford,
Maine/Biddeford) was the only other Skyhawk in
double-figures as part of a balanced offensive effort with ten
points (eight first half), aided by 2-for-3 shooting from
three-point range, and six assists.
All nine Stonehill players who
played more than two minutes scored, including senior Megan
Methven (Corning, N.Y./Corning East) who chipped in eight
points off the bench on 3-for-7 shooting from the field, including
2-of-4 from long range, and five rebounds.
Junior Libby Cullerot
(Henniker, N.H./John Stark) was the lone Southern New
Hampshire player in double-figures with 11 points on 3-of-5
shooting from the field, including a perfect 3-for-3 from beyond
the arc, while converting both free-throw attempts off the bench to
go with two blocked shots. Senior Jenny McDade (Derry,
N.H./Pinkerton Academy) added nine points and eight
rebounds, while sophomore Christine Duffy (South Boston,
Mass./Archbishop Williams) chipped in with eight assists.
Stonehill finished shooting
44.8-percent (26-for-58) from the field, including 51.7% (15-29) in
the first half in which the Skyhawks connected on 4-of-7 (57.1%)
three-pointers. Stonehill blocked a season-high ten shots which
aided in holding Southern New Hampshire to 32-percent (16-for-50)
shooting from the field, including 23.1% (6-26) in the second half.
The Penmen also shot just 38.9% (7-18) from the free-throw line and
Stonehill finished with a 45-31 rebounding advantage.
Southern New Hampshire scored the
first basket of the game to take its only lead of the night as
Stonehill then rolled out to a 17-4 lead after a Rousseau three
with 13:38 to play in the opening half. SNHU drew back within seven
(24-17) after two free-throws from Cullerot with 6:50 left in the
half, but the Skyhawks responded with a 10-1 run to open a 16-point
lead (36-20) after a layup from junior Amanda Smith
(Penacook, N.H./Merrimack Valley) with to go before the
break.
Stonehill settled for a 13-point
(38-25) lead at the intermission and SNHU opened the second half
with a 7-1 burst to cut the gap to seven again (39-32) following a
conventional three-point play from McDade 3:24 into the second
half. The Skyhawks again had the answer, reeling off a 10-1 run
over the next four minutes to regain their 16-point cushion (49-33)
after a Simonds layup with 12:20 remaining.
SNHU wouldn't get back within 11
points the rest of the way as Stonehill forged a 20-point lead
(59-39) after two free-throws from junior Kristen McWhirter
(Melvin Village, N.H./New Hampton Prep) with 7:24 to play.
Stonehill (8-2, 4-0 NE-10) is right
back in action on Tuesday when it hosts rival Bentley University,
among teams receiving votes in this week's national poll, at 5:30
p.m. Southern New Hampshire (5-4, 3-2 NE-10) hosts Merrimack
College on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.
