Junior Emily Rousseau matched her career high with 27 points to go with five assists and four rebounds.

Stonehill Shoots Past New Haven, 83-72

Rousseau & McWhirter post career-bests to lift Skyhawks to sixth-straight win

Boxscore 

EASTON, Mass. (January 16, 2010) - Stonehill College, among teams receiving votes in this week's USA Today/ESPN/Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Division II poll, notched its second-straight 80-point game in claiming an 83-72 victory over the University of New Haven in Northeast-10 Conference women's basketball action at Merkert Gymnasium this afternoon.

Juniors Emily Rousseau (Biddeford, Maine/Biddeford) and Kristen McWhirter (Melvin Village, N.H./New Hampton Prep) combined for 49 points as each posted career-highs in leading Stonehill to its sixth-straight victory. Rousseau matched her career-best with 27 points (17 second half) on 10-of-14 shooting from the field, including 2-for-4 from three-point range, to go with four rebounds and five assists. McWhirter made 8-of-14 shots from the field, including 4-for-8 from beyond the arc, while converting both free-throw attempts for a career-high 22 points (13 first half) while adding three rebounds and two assists.

Senior Kelsey Simonds (Middleboro, Mass./Cardinal Spellman) contributed her fifth double-double of the season (28^th career) with 15 points, canning 2-of-3 three-pointers, a game-high ten rebounds and career-high matching seven blocked shots with two steals.

Junior Kristen McWhirter netted a career-best 22 points, draining 4-of-8 three-pointers.

Senior Helin Marte (Woodhaven, N.Y./Richmond Hill) led three New Haven players in double-figures with 14 points, four assists, three rebounds and three steals. Freshman Jill Baranger (Fairfield, Conn./Fairfield Ludlow) added 13 points, a team-high seven rebounds and two steals, while junior Nicole Pollard (Swansea, Mass./Joseph Case) posted 11 points, four rebounds, four assists and a blocked shot.

Stonehill finished shooting 48.3-percent (29-for-60) from the field, including 50% (13-26) in the second half, while connecting on 42.1-percent (8-19) of its three-point attempts. The Skyhawks connected on 6-of-13 (46.2%) three's in the first half, including 3-of-6 by McWhirter. New Haven was held to 37.3-percent (25-for-67) shooting from the field, including 34.4% (11-32) in the second half. The Chargers made just 5-of-19 (26.3%) three-pointers, going empty on seven attempts in the second half.

After a first half that featured seven ties and eight lead changes, Stonehill took control in the second half. The Skyhawks quickly pushed its six-point (43-37) halftime lead into double-digits with an opening 10-3 run, capped by a McWhirter three, to open a 13-point cushion (53-40) with 16:57 to play.

New Haven cut the lead to seven points (57-50) after a three-point play by freshman Jasmine Hardy (Meriden, N.H./Lebanon) with 13:21 to go. Rousseau answered with a three-pointer on Stonehill's next possession to regain the double-figure lead and spark a 10-2 Skyhawks run to claim a game-high 15-point bulge (67-52) after two free-throws from sophomore Tania Williams (South Setauket, N.Y./Ward-Melville) with 8:11 remaining. 

Senior Kelsey Simonds posted her 28th career double-double with 15 points and ten rebounds while blocking a career-high matching seven shots.

New Haven closed again, drawing within six (69-63) after a Marte layup with 4:42 to go capped an 11-2 Chargers run. Stonehill pushed its advantage back to ten (75-65) on a Simonds layup with 2:41 to play, but the Chargers wouldn't go away, cutting the gap to six (75-69) on two free-throws from junior Tiana Williams (Hyde Park, Mass./O'Bryant School) with 1:41 remaining. The Skyhawks held fast and sealed the victory by draining 6-of-8 free-throws from there, while New Haven missed its last five field goals, extending their lead to 13 (83-70) after a free-throw from senior Megan Methven (Corning, N.Y./Corning East) with 28-seconds left.

Stonehill (14-4, 9-2 NE-10) is back in action on Wednesday when it hosts American International College at 5:30 p.m. The athletic department, in association with the College's Office of Campus Ministry for the Congregation of the Holy Cross, will be accepting donations to a Haitian Relief Fund while also donating $2.00 from every adult ticket and $1.00 from every student and senior citizen ticket to the Holy Cross Mission Center at the University of Notre Dame and transferred directly to the Congregation's relief efforts in Haiti. Admission to the games is $7.00 for adults and $4.00 for students and senior citizens. Those wishing to contribute in addition to the ticket shares may make personal checks payable to Stonehill College, c/o Haiti Relief Fund, and dropped off in a donation basket at the ticket table. Cash donations will also be accepted. 100-percent of all monies donated will go directly to the relief efforts.

New Haven (7-9, 5-6 NE-10) visits Saint Michael's College on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.