Senior Kelsey Simonds posted her 31st career double-double to lead Stonehill past rival Bentley in the first round of the NE-10 Tournament, notching 26 points and a season-high 15 rebounds.

2010 NCAA DIVISION II EAST REGIONAL
Stonehill Shoots Past Bentley, 74-56

Simonds leads Skyhawks into second round with double-double performance 

Boxscore

FITCHBURG, Mass. (March 12, 2010) – Third-seeded Stonehill College, among teams receiving votes in this week's USA Today/ESPN/Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) poll, pulled away in the second half in posting a 74-56 victory over sixth-seeded Bentley University, also among teams receiving votes nationally, in first round action of the 2010 NCAA Division II Women's Basketball East Regional Tournament, hosted by Franklin Pierce University and played at the Recreation Center on the campus of Fitchburg State College.

Stonehill (24-9, 16-6 NE-10) advances to tomorrow night's second round where it will face second-seeded and No. 16-ranked Holy Family University (29-2, 19-0 CACC) here at the Recreation Center at 5 p.m. Holy Family advanced by rallying for a 49-43 decision over seventh-seeded University of Bridgeport in today's first opening round game. The regional championship will be played on Monday night at 7 p.m. Bentley (19-11, 16-6 NE-10) sees its season come to an end after a first round NCAA Tournament exit for the third-straight year in its record 27^th tournament appearance.

“Holy Family is a very talented team with a lot of tournament experience,” said Stonehill head coach Trisha Brown, in her ninth year at the College. “They showed a lot of poise today in coming back to win and I think it will be a good, tough game tomorrow night.”

Senior forward Kelsey Simonds (Middleboro, Mass./Cardinal Spellman) led Stonehill with her eighth double-double of the season (31^st career) and she scored a game-high 26 points (19 second half) to go with a season-high 15 rebounds, four blocked shots, three assists and two steals. She made 11-of-17 shots from the field, including all four three-point attempts on the afternoon.

Senior Erin Gray scored ten of her 13 points in the second half to help the Skyhawks pull away.

Senior Erin Gray (Clifton Park, N.Y./Shenendehowa) added 13 points (ten second half) on 4-of-5 shooting from the field, including all three from beyond the arc, and converting both free-throw attempts to go with six rebounds. Junior Emily Rousseau (Biddeford, Maine/Biddeford) rounded out the double-figure scorers with 11 points, aided by 6-for-6 shooting at the line, five assists and two steals.

Junior Kim Brennan (Locust Valley, N.Y./Locust Valley) led Bentley with 16 points, shooting 6-for-16 from the field and converting all three free-throw attempts, to go with five rebounds, three assists and three steals. Classmate Elise Caira (Wakefield, Mass./Arlington Catholic) notched a double-double with ten points and ten rebounds (six offensive) to go with three assists. Senior Colette Josey (Boston, Mass./Framingham) chipped in nine points and seven rebounds (four offensive).

Stonehill finished shooting 43.3-percent (26-for-60) from the field, including a blistering 10-for-14 (71.4%) from three-point range, while converting 12-of-13 (92.3%) free-throw attempts. The Skyhawks shot 46.9% (15-32) from the field, including 5-of-6 (83.3%) from long distance in the second half, converting 10-of-11 (90.9%) free-throws. Bentley was limited to 35% (21-60) shooting from the field, including 6-of-19 (31.6%) from deep. The Falcons finished with a 38-37 rebounding advantage after entering the lockerroom with a 26-12 margin at halftime.

“It was exactly what expected from a Bentley/Stonehill game,” said Brown. “We started out strong and you always knew Bentley would make a run at it. I'm happy with how we played in the second half. We made a few adjustments at halftime and the players really came out and played hard and made those work.”

Bentley led by two (42-40) after a three-point play by Brennan with 13:12 to go in the second half. The Skyhawks then started to take control, using a 10-2 run to open a ten point (52-42) lead after a Simonds three with 9:03 remaining. The Falcons drew back within seven (52-35) when senior Dedra Pritchard (Lake Hopatcong, N.J./Jefferson Township) made one of two free-throws with 6:26 to play, but the Skyhawks iced the game with 11-straight points to take an 18-point lead (63-45) after two free-throws by Rousseau with 3:37 left. Simonds sparked the burst with a three-pointer as five different players scored during that stretch. Bentley cut the deficit to 14 on two occasions in the final moments, but Stonehill made its last six free-throws and Gray capped the win with a three-pointer.

Stonehill came out firing in the early stages, staking out a 14-point lead (20-6) after a 14-2 run, capped by a Simonds layup 7:01 into the first half. Bentley rebounded and used a 14-2 run of its own to take the lead (25-24) after two Brennan free-throws with 3:03 left in the half. Simonds buried a three-ball at the other end to regain the lead and the Skyhawks took a two point lead (29-27) into halftime.

The teams traded the lead in the early part of the second half, but a quick 9-0 burst gave Stonehill the lead for good (40-33) after a Simonds layup with 16:04 left in regulation. Gray had five points, including a three-pointer during that stretch for the Skyhawks. Bentley used a 7-2 spurt to close within two (42-40) after the Brennan three-point play before Stonehill pulled away for good.