Sampson's career-high 23 points off the bench fuels Skyhawks as Brown takes over as program's all-time leader in games at helm

Sampson scored 14 of her career-high 23 points in the first half, including 11 during a second-quarter run that saw the Skyhawks gain control of the game (PHOTO BY Bob Blanchard)

EASTON, Mass. (January 25, 2024) – Stonehill College shot 50-percent from the floor in three of the four quarters and connected on 8-of-16 (50%) three-pointers overall in securing a 66-57 triumph over Saint Francis University in Northeast Conference women's basketball action at Merkert Gymnasium that was broadcast on ESPN+ through the NEC's television package.

Stonehill earns its third win over the last four game on Paula Sullivan Court on a night for head coach Trisha Brown surpassed Sullivan, the program founder, longtime administrator and mentor for most games at the helm of the program. Brown has now guided the Skyhawks for 637 games over her 23 seasons at the College, posting a 415-222 (.651) record for a program which has had just three coaches over its 53-year history. Sullivan, a member of both the Stonehill and Northeast-10 Conference Halls of Fame, led Stonehill for the first 636 games of the program's existence from 1971-1996 before serving as the College's Director of Athletics and later Vice President before her retirement in 2014.

Postgraduate transfer Lauren Sampson led three from Stonehill in double-figures with a career-high 23 points on 9-of-15 shooting, including 3-for-5 from three-point distance, to reach double-figures for the sixth-straight game played in 20-minutes off the bench, adding two rebounds, two assists and career-high matching two blocked shots. Freshman Brooke Paquette added 11 points on 3-of-6 shooting, including 2-for-5 from three, with four rebounds, while junior Sharn Hayward canned 3-of-5 threes for ten points to reach double-digits for the fifth-straight game, adding four assists.

Brown led the Skyhawks for the 637th time, passing Paula Sullivan for most games at the Stonehill helm tonight. (PHOTO BY Bob Blanchard)

Sophomore Destini Ward led a pair of double-figure scorers for Saint Francis with 18 points, six rebounds, two assists and two steals. Freshman Kendall Carruthers totaled 13 points and three steals for the Red Flash, while classmate Marina Artero pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds (seven offensive), with eight points and three steals off the bench.

Sampson scored 14 of her career-best point total in the first half, including 11 in the second quarter when Stonehill stretched its lead to 11 points (36-25) at the intermission. She pushed the Skyhawks in front for good (12-10), draining a three-pointer just past the halfway point of the first quarter, before Paquette sent Stonehill into the second quarter with a three of her own with two minutes left.

Sampson scored all 11 of her second quarter points within a three-minute stretch to single-handedly lead an 11-4 Stonehill run that pushed its lead to nine (28-19) with 4:28 to go in the first half. Hayward and Paquette added triples for the Skyhawks in the last 2:41 of the second quarter to send the hosts into halftime with the 11-point (36-25) cushion.

Stonehill scored the first four points of the second half to stretch its lead to 15 (40-25) after 1:38. Back-to-back three-pointers from Hayward saw that lead grow to 19 (48-29) four minutes into the third quarter, but Saint Francis responded with a 12-2 run, sparked by a pair of three-pointers from Carruthers, to close back within nine (50-41) with 2:17 to go in the third.

Saint Francis crept back within seven on Ward layups twice in the opening minute of the fourth quarter, but Stonehill recovered as Sampson buried a three and added a jumper to restore a double-digit lead (59-47) with 7:31 to play. The Red Flash would not go away, trimming the lead to six (61-55) with three-minutes still to play, following a three-pointer from junior Harris Robinson and a Ward free-throw.

Paquette scored in double-figures for the sixth time with 11 points (PHOTO BY Bob Blanchard)

Stonehill held firm and yielded just a consolation layup in the final seconds the rest of the way, scoring on 5-of-6 free-throw attempts in the closing 2:18 to reclaim an 11-point lead (66-55) after Paquette made a pair with 41-seconds left to seal the win.

Noteworthy

• Sampson has scored in double-figures in six of the seven games she has played after returning from injury in her first season at Stonehill after transferring from Providence College. She has 11 career double-figure games, including her time with the Friars.
• Sampson's 23-points is just the second 20-plus point game for Stonehill this season after Hayward's career-best 33 points on a school-record 11 three-pointers here at Merkert Gym on January 15.
• Hayward has reached double figures in five-straight games at home, averaging 17.0 points on 56.9-percent shooting (29-51), including 24-for-42 (57.1%) from three in this stretch.
• Hayward has scored in double-figures in five-straight games, eight games this season overall, and nine career, while Paquette scored in double-figures for the sixth time in her first collegiate season.
• Senior Jada Thornton and junior Maureen Stapleton shared the Stonehill rebounding lead with six apiece, with Stapleton leading the Skyhawks for the 15^th time this season (18^th career).
• Paula Sullivan led Stonehill to a 479-157 (.753) record over her 25-years at the helm, while fellow Stonehill Athletic Hall of Famer Kelly Hart (98-50/.662) record over her 148 games in five years at the helm after serving as Sullivan's assistant coach prior.

Up Next
Stonehill (3-17, 3-4 NEC) is off until next Thursday, February 1, when it hosts Sacred Heart University for its Play 4 Kay Game to benefit the Kay Yow Cancer Fund to close out its second three-game homestand of the season at 6 p.m. Saint Francis (3-17, 2-5 NEC) visits Merrimack College on Saturday at 3 p.m.

Tickets for home Stonehill basketball games can be purchased in advance online at stonehillskyhawks.com/tickets.

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