LORETTO, Pa. (February 13, 2025) – Sophomore Brooke Paquette delivered a stellar 23-point performance, going a perfect 8-of-8 from the field, to lead the Stonehill women's basketball team to a commanding 74-43 victory over Northeast Conference (NEC) rival Saint Francis University on Thursday night. With the win, the Skyhawks improved to 11-12 overall and 7-3 in conference play, while the Red Flash fell to 9-15 overall and 7-4 in NEC competition.
 
Leaders
Paquette delivered her third 20-point performance of the season with a perfect shooting display, finishing with 23 points on 8-of-8 shooting from the field, including three three-pointers. She also capitalized on four free throws to round out her impressive performance.
 
Graduate student Kylie Swider posted her 16th double-digit scoring effort and ninth consecutive game with 10 or more points, contributing 12 points on 5-of-11 shooting. Swider also pulled down seven rebounds and matched her season-high with two steals in 28 minutes of play.
 
Senior Sharn Hayward scored in double figures for the fifth straight game, totaling 13 points on 5-of-12 shooting. Hayward added seven assists in 34 minutes, falling just one assist short of her season-high mark of eight.
 
First-year student Megan Sias made a significant impact off the bench with 14 points in 18 minutes of action. Sias also grabbed seven rebounds—one shy of her career-high of eight set against Chicago State on January 25—and recorded one blocked shot.
 
Saint Francis was led by junior Marissa Shelton, who finished with 18 points on 7-of-10 shooting, including three three-pointers. Shelton also contributed five rebounds, one assist, and one steal for the Red Flash.
 
How it Happened
After Saint Francis opened the scoring, both teams traded runs, with Stonehill going on a nine-point run and Saint Francis answering with an eight-point stretch, leading to a 10-10 tie midway through the first quarter. The teams continued to exchange leads until the final seconds, when Sias hit a three-pointer to give the Skyhawks a 19-16 advantage heading into the second quarter.
 
Saint Francis responded early in the second, pulling within one at 21-20 just over three minutes in. However, this would be as close as the Red Flash would get. Stonehill extended its lead with a 10-0 run, capped by two points each from Paquette, Swider, Hayward, and senior Maureen Stapleton. The Red Flash narrowed the gap to 33-26, heading into halftime, thanks to three late points from their leading scorer, Shelton.
 
Stonehill carried its momentum into the third quarter, outscoring Saint Francis 19-6. After Shelton hit a three to pull the Red Flash within four, a 19-3 run, highlighted by six points each from Paquette and Sias, pushed the Skyhawks' lead to 20 points, 52-32, heading into the final frame.
 
Swider started the fourth quarter with a mid-range jumper, and Paquette added eight points to lead the Skyhawks' offensive charge. Stonehill outscored Saint Francis 22-11 in the final 10 minutes, securing a commanding 74-43 victory in Loretto, Pennsylvania.

Noteworthy

• Swider recorded double-digit points for the ninth consecutive game and the 16th time this season.
• Hayward reached double figures for the 32nd time in her career and a team-leading 20th time this season, having scored at least 10 points in 15 of the last 16 games. Six of her 13 points on Thursday came in the first quarter.
• Paquette hit double-digit points for the third straight game, marking the 14th time this season she has achieved the feat.
• Stapleton dished out five assists on the night, marking her seventh game of the year with five or more assists.
• Stonehill dominated the rebounding battle, outrebounding Saint Francis 39-22, including a 10-4 advantage on the offensive glass. The Skyhawks also tallied 17 assists on their 27 field goals.
• Stonehill's shooting percentage of 48.2% (27-of-56) was their second highest of the season, trailing only their 51.8% (29-of-56) performance against Dartmouth on December 10.

Up Next
Stonehill women's basketball (11-12, 7-3 NEC) will remain on the road, traveling to Erie, Pennsylvania to take on Mercyhurst (9-14, 6-6 NEC) on Saturday, Feb. 15, at 1 PM.
 
Tickets for home Stonehill basketball games can be purchased in advance online at stonehillskyhawks.com/tickets.

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