Senior Kelsey Simonds led a balanced Stonehill effort with 12 points, seven rebounds and three steals.

Defense Leads Stonehill Past Saint Anselm, 47-34

Skyhawk hold second-straight opponent under 40-points in victory

Boxscore 

EASTON, Mass. (February 17, 2010) - Stonehill College, ranked fifth in this week's NCAA Division II East Regional rankings released earlier today, held its opposition under 40 points for the second-straight game in notching a 47-34 victory over Saint Anselm College in Northeast-10 Conference women's basketball action at Merkert Gymnasium tonight.

Senior Kelsey Simonds (Middleboro, Mass./Cardinal Spellman) led a balanced Stonehill effort with 12 points on 4-of-8 shooting from the field while converting all four free-throw attempts, to go with seven rebounds and three steals. Senior Megan Methven (Corning, N.Y./Corning East) added eight points, while classmate Erin Gray (Clifton Park, N.Y./Shenendehowa) contributed seven points, seven rebounds and two blocked shots. Junior Emily Rousseau (Biddeford, Maine/Biddeford) chipped in seven points, six boards and three assists, while classmate Kristen McWhirter (Melvin Village, N.H./New Hampton Prep) dished out six assists to go with six points and five rebounds.

Sophomore Epiphany Smith (Springdale, Ark./Har-Ber) led Saint Anselm with a game-high 15 points to go with six rebounds. Sophomore Megan Howard (Saint Paul, Minn./Central) added nine points and eight rebounds (five offensive).

Tough Skyhawks defense limited its second-straight opponent to less than 40 points.

Stonehill was held to just 34.9-percent (15-for-43) shooting from the field, including 5-for-18 (27.8%) from three-point range, but held Saint Anselm to 25% (13-52) shooting, including 6-for-28 (21.4%) in the first half to build a ten-point lead at the break. The Skyhawks converted 12-of-14 (85.7%) free-throw attempts, while the Hawks made 6-of-8 (75%) from the line.

Stonehill outscored Saint Anselm 16-6 over the final 13 minutes of the first half to carry a ten point (25-15) lead into the lockerroom. Methven sparked the stretch with a three-pointer, while Gray netted all seven of her points in that time. The Skyhawks kept the momentum going in the second half, extending their lead to 16 (37-21) after a McWhirter three with 13:06 remaining.

Stonehill's lead grew to 18 (42-24) after a Simonds layup with 5:33 to go. Saint Anselm was able to close within 11 (45-34) after two Smith free-throws with 1:13 to play, the Skyhawks were never seriously threatened in the second half.

Prior to the game, Stonehill honored its four seniors who played in their final regular season home game tonight. Simonds, Methven, Gray and Stephanie Pintal (Nashua, N.H./Nashua South) are all in their final season for the Skyhawks.

Stonehill (19-8, 14-6 NE-10) closes out the regular season with a pair of road games beginning Saturday at Southern New Hampshire University at 1:30 p.m., before heading to Bentley University next Wednesday, February 24, at 5:30 p.m. the Skyhawks will host an NE-10 Tournament game either Sunday, February 28, at 2 p.m., or Tuesday, March 2, at 7 p.m. Saint Anselm (9-16, 6-14 NE-10) is back in action on Saturday when it hosts the University of Massachusetts Lowell at 1:30 p.m.