CHICAGO (Jan. 10, 2026) – The Stonehill women's basketball team dropped an NEC road contest at Chicago State by a score of 51-48 at the Jones Convocation Center Saturday afternoon.

The loss drops the Skyhawks to 5-10 overall (1-3 NEC), while the Cougars move to 2-15 (1-3 NEC).

STONEHILL HIGHLIGHTS:

• Brooke Paquette paced Stonehill with 10 points, while Ella Pelletier had an eight-point, eight-rebound effort.
   
• Stonehill outrebounded Chicago State by a margin of 41-30.
   
• Amaya Dowdy blocked three shots.

HOW IT HAPPENED:
In the opening frame, Breana Delaney hit back-to-back layups, as the teams were tied, 9-9, at the first media timeout of the game.  Delaney then made a three-pointer, followed by Brooke Paquette's second triple of the first, giving Stonehill a 15-9 lead. The Skyhawks continued to hold an edge on the scoreboard and headed to the second up 19-13, as Delaney led the way with seven points.

With just under four minutes remaining in the half and with Stonehill owning a 24-22 lead, Rissi Smith sank two foul shots to put the Skyhawks up four. The Cougars closed the half with a 5-0 run to give Chicago State a 29-27 edge going into the break.

The game remained a one-possession contest into the third quarter, with Ella Pelletier making a steal at midcourt and finishing with a layup to tie it, 32-32, but then the Cougars responded to go up, 37-33, at the 4:55 mark. The Skyhawks responded with a 6-0 run to go back in front, 39-37.

With the Cougars leading in the fourth, Paquette banked a jumper off the backboard to make it 47-43 with just over four minutes to play, keeping the Skyhawks within two possessions. With 59.5 ticks left on the clock, Amaya Dowdy converted an and-one to put the Skyhawks down three, 51-48.

UP NEXT:
Stonehill (5-10, 1-3 NEC) will return to Merkert Gymnasium to host Saint Francis (1-14, 1-3 NEC) Thursday, Jan. 15 at 6 p.m.

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