Box Score
Senior Kelsey Simonds returned after a five-game absence
and led Stonehill with 18 points in 24 minutes on
Saturday.
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Simonds Leads Stonehill Past Saint
Michael's, 56-39
Skyhawk senior returns with
game-high 18 points in 24 minutes
Boxscore
EASTON, Mass. (February 13,
2010) - Stonehill College, among teams receiving votes in
this week's USA Today/ESPN/Women's Basketball Coaches Association
(WBCA) poll and ranked fifth in the NCAA Division II East Regional
rankings, returned to the win column with a 56-39 triumph over
Saint Michael's College in Northeast-10 Conference women's
basketball action at Merkert Gymnasium this afternoon.
Senior Kelsey Simonds
(Middleboro, Mass./Cardinal Spellman) returned to the
Stonehill lineup after a five game absence and led the way with a
game-high 18 points on 8-of-13 shooting from the field, while
converting both free-throw attempts, to go with five rebounds,
three steals, two blocks and two assists in 24 minutes of action.
Juniors Kristen McWhirter (Melvin Village, N.H./New Hampton
Prep) and Emily Rousseau (Biddeford,
Maine/Biddeford) each added ten points for the Skyhawks.
McWhirter made 4-of-9 shots from the field, including 2-for-5 from
three-point range, to go with six assists, two rebounds and two
steals. Rousseau also made 4-of-9 shots from the field, including
2-of-4 three-pointers, and four rebounds. Senior Erin Gray
(Clifton Park, N.Y./Shenedehowa) chipped in by grabbing a
game and career-high matching 12 rebounds.
No Saint Michael's players reached
double-figures with senior Alexis Keller (Harrington Park,
N.J./Old Tappan) leading the way with nine points,
draining 2-of-4 three-pointers, to go with two assists and two
steals. Juniors Megan McCormack (Barrie, Ontario/Saint
Peter's Secondary) and Logan Pintka (Schenectady,
N.Y./Colonie Central) each added seven points, while
senior Michelle Otey (Southborough, Mass./Algonquin
Regional) pulled down a team-best eight rebounds.
Stonehill finished shooting
46.2-percent (24-for-52) from the field, including 12-for-24 (50%)
in the second half, while Saint Michael's was limited to 29.4%
(15-51) shooting, including just 6-for-29 (20.7%) in the opening
half as the Skyhawks built a 13-point (29-16) halftime lead.
Stonehill posted a 36-30 rebounding advantage. The Skyhawks halted
a four-game losing streak, going 1-4 in their five games without
Simonds in the lineup, and remained a game in front of The College
of Saint Rose for the fourth and final first round bye in the
upcoming NE-10 Tournament.
Stonehill never trailed, scoring
the first five points of the game on a McWhirter three and Simonds
jumper in the opening minute. The Skyhawks lead was three (17-14)
midway through the first half, before closing out the frame with a
12-2 run to open a 13-point lead (29-16) with 2:58 left in the half
as neither team scored the rest of the way. Simonds had four points
during that stretch, with a Rousseau jumper capping the run.
Stonehill kept the pressure on at
the restart, netting the first nine points of the second half, on
five points from McWhirter and four by Simonds, to push its lead to
22 points (38-16) 2:22 into the frame. A three-pointer by senior
Megan Methven (Corning, N.Y./Corning East)
pushed the Skyhawks lead to a game-high 24-points (45-21) with
10:16 left and Saint Michael's wouldn't get within 17 the rest of
the way.
Stonehill (18-8, 13-6 NE-10) is
back in action on Wednesday when it hosts Saint Anselm College in
its final regular season home game at 5:30 p.m. Saint Michael's
(7-15, 5-14 NE-10) hosts Southern New Hampshire University on
Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.
