EASTON, Mass. (February 22, 2025) – The Stonehill College women's basketball team celebrated its annual Play4Kay game in partnership with the Kay Yow Foundation at Merkert Gym, dropping a Northeast Conference matchup against Central Connecticut State, 84-68.
 
Leaders

Sophomore Brooke Paquette (Hudson, N.H.) led Stonehill with 18 points, seven assists, and three steals in 38 minutes. Senior Sharn Hayward (Penguin, Tasmania) knocked down four three-pointers en route to a 14-point performance.
Graduate student Kylie Swider (Portsmouth, R.I.) scored 12 points and grabbed seven rebounds, while freshman Megan Sias (Toms River, N.J.) tallied 11 points and four boards.
 
CCSU was led by Belle Lanpher who scored 35 points, shooting 11-of-19 from the field, 6-for-8 from three, and 7-for-8 from the free throw line. Lanpher also had four rebounds, three assists, and three steals in 37 minutes.
 
How it Happened

In a back-and-forth first quarter, neither team could take a lead of more than three points as the two teams found themselves tied, 20-20, at the end of the first, with freshman Breana Delaney (Marlboro, N.J.) making a layup at the buzzer. Lanpher scored nine points in the quarter while Swider and Paquette each had six.
 
CCSU started the second quarter on a 13-0 run, eventually going up by as much as 15 points, 37-22, six minutes into the frame. Stonehill scored the next five points to trim the deficit to 10 before going into the break down 11, 40-29. Lanpher had 18 first-half points to lead the Blue Devils, while Swider had 10 to lead the Skyhawks.
 
In a high-scoring third quarter, Stonehill made five of its eight three-point attempts, and CCSU also knocked down five threes to keep pace with the Skyhawks, halting their comeback attempt. Hayward's 11 points and a three-pointer with five seconds remaining in the quarter from freshman Sydney McLaughlin (Hanover, N.H.) brought Stonehill within seven, 62-55, at the end of the third.
 
Sias made a layup to open the fourth quarter scoring but the Blue Devils responded with eight straight points to go back up by 13, 70-57. CCSU would lead the rest of the way, securing the 84-68 win at Merkert Gym.

Noteworthy

• Stonehill drops to 2-4 all-time against Central Connecticut State, having lost four consecutive games to the Blue Devils.
• Hayward scored in double figures for the eighth straight game, the 23rd time this season, and the 35th time of her career. Hayward also knocked down four threes in a game for the 13th time this season.
• Paquette scored 10+ points for the sixth consecutive game and recorded 3+ steals for a team-best eighth time this season. She led Stonehill in scoring today for the sixth time while also leading the team in assists for a team-best 16th time.
• Swider scored in double figures for the 12th straight game and 19th time this season.

Up Next

• Stonehill women's basketball (13-13, 9-4 NEC) travels to Hackensack, N.J., to take on undefeated FDU (23-3, 13-0) on Thursday, Feb. 27 at 11:30 a.m.

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

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