ST. GEORGE, Utah. (November 13, 2024) – Stonehill College shot 50 percent from the floor and buried 11 three-pointers over the final three quarters to erase a 17-point deficit after the opening ten minutes and secured a second-straight win with an 89-86 shootout victory over Utah Tech in non-conference women's basketball action at Burns Arena this afternoon.
Senior
Sharn Hayward led a season-high four from Stonehill in double-figures with a season-high 22 points on 5-of-13 shooting from three-point distance, while converting 7-of-8 free-throws, to go with a career-high matching five rebounds and season-best five assists and a steal in playing wire-to-wire 40 minutes.
Postgrad
Kylie Swider a transfer from Villanova University, and senior
Maureen Stapleton each recorded their first career double-doubles as the Skyhawks posted a 45-37 rebounding advantage on the night. Swider posted career-highs with 19 points on 9-of-15 shooting and ten rebounds, with three assists, a blocked shot and steal, while Stapleton added a career-best 12 points on a perfect 5-for-5 shooting performance from the floor, including both three-point attempts, with a season and game-high 11 boards, season-best six assists and career-high matching three blocked shots.
Stapleton posted her first career double-double with a career-high 12 points on a perfect 5-for-5 shooting effort and season-best 11 rebounds (PHOTO BY Wesley Bunnell/Stockton Photo)
|
Freshman
Megan Sias contributed a season-high ten points for Stonehill on 4-for-6 shooting and five rebounds, while sophomore
Brooke Paquette dished out a career-best nine assists with five steals and junior
Chelsea Graiver chipped in nine points on 3-of-6 shooting from long range off the bench.
Junior
Aaliyah Ibarra scored a game-high 23 points off the bench to lead Utah Tech, connecting on 5-of-8 three-pointers, with three steals, while freshman
Kastyn Young added 17 points off the bench. Freshman
Ellie Taylor was the lone Trailblazer in double-figures with 15 points on 6-of-12 shooting, adding a team-high seven rebounds and four assists.
Utah Tech connected on 12-of-19 shots (63.2 percent), including 5-of-8 three-pointers (62.5%) over the first ten minutes to grab a 17-point advantage (31-14) after a quarter of play. Young and Taylor combined for 13 points to lead the Trailblazers in the frame who scored eight-straight, including three-pointers from Ibarra and Young to push its lead to 14 (22-8) halfway through the frame and then scored seven of the final eight points in the quarter, capped by a Willardson three-point play, to take a 17-point advantage into the second quarter.
After making 5-of-14 shots in the opening quarter, including 1-for-5 from deep, with seven turnovers that led to a 10-0 Utah Tech advantage in points off, Stonehill connected on 50-percent of its shots (26-for-52) the rest of the way, including 11-for-23 (47.8%) from downtown, while turning the ball over just 14 times to secure its second-straight win and first road non-conference win since its 81-74 victory at Bryant University on December 11, 2022, snapping a run of eight-straight defeats.
Stonehill scored ten of the first 12 points in the second quarter to close back inside eight (33-25) less than three minutes in, keyed by a trio of three-pointers from Hayward. Young hit a three-pointer for Utah Tech to quiet the run momentarily, but the Skyhawks followed with a Swider layup and Stapleton three to draw back within six (36-30) midway through the quarter and then Graiver trimmed the Trailblazers lead to five (38-33) with a three-pointer with 4:22 left in the half.
Hayward paced the Skyhawks with a season-high 22 points, including 11 in the second quarter. (PHOTO BY Wesley Bunnell/Stockton Photo)
|
Utah Tech steadied and used a 13-4 run to reclaim a 14-point cushion (51-37) after a three-pointer from sophomore
Calyn Dallas with 1:45 remaining in the half. Stonehill pulled back within seven at the break (51-44) after scoring the final seven points of the frame, sparked by a three from freshman
Shira Elkis.
Utah Tech stretched its lead back to 12 (59-47) after a layup from freshman
Mylee Graham less than three minutes into the third quarter and then the margin was 13 (65-52) with an Ibarra three with 5:26 remaining in the frame. Stonehill followed with 11-straight, including five by Stapleton who led a string of three-straight triples by the Skyhawks, to pull back within two (65-63) after a Graiver triple with 2:37 left in the quarter.
Utah Tech took a four-point lead (71-67) into the final quarter after Ibarra capped the third with a layup, but Stonehill scored the first eight points of the fourth, including four from freshman
Julia Webster, to reclaim the lead (75-71) after a Swider layup two minutes in.
Young connected on a three-pointer to push Utah Tech back in front (78-77) with 5:26 to play, but Stonehill followed with the next six points, including four in a row from Sias, to grab a five-point lead (83-78) with 3:38 to play. Utah Tech battled back even (86-86) after a layup by senior
Emily Isaacson with 64 seconds remaining. The Trailblazers would not score again and the Skyhawks sealed the win in their first-ever visit to the State of Utah with free throws by Elkis and Hayward in the final minute.
Coach's Corner
"This was a great team win," said Stonehill head coach
Trisha Brown. "I am really happy with our grit to come back from a big first-quarter deficit. It is nice to see the balanced scoring and I am really encouraged with our bench play."
Noteworthy
Up Next
Stonehill (2-1, 0-0 NEC) is right back in action on Friday when it visits the University of Nevada, Las Vegas at 9:30 p.m. (ET) The Skyhawks return home on Tuesday, November 26, to host the University of Maine, reigning champions in the America East Conference, at 7 p.m. Utah Tech (1-2, 0-0 WAC) hosts Weber State University on Saturday at 7 p.m.
Season and single-game tickets for home Stonehill basketball games can be purchased in advance online at
stonehillskyhawks.com/tickets.
For the latest on Stonehill Athletics, follow the Skyhawks via social media on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, and check out its all-new website, powered by Sidearm Sports, at stonehillskyhawks.com.
