Stupinski Scores 12 Points, Including Four Key Free Throws In Closing Seconds, As 17th-Ranked Women's Basketball Wins Battle Of Northeast-10 Unbeatens With 59-54 League Triumph Over 13th-Ranked American International

January 5, 2006

STONEHILL WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Thursday, January 5, 2006

Merkert Gymnasium, Easton, Mass.

FINAL:STONEHILL 59, AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL 54

EASTON, Mass.-- Sophomore Erika Stupinski (Topsham, Maine) scored 12 points, including four free throws in the final 13 seconds to ice matters, as 17th-ranked Stonehill won the battle of Northeast-10 Conference women's basketball unbeatens with a 59-54 league victory over 13th-ranked American International Thursday evening at Merkert Gymnasium.

A match-up of the two highest scoring teams in the conference turned into a defensive struggle early, as the host Skyhawks (12-0, 7-0 Northeast-10) built a 31-21 halftime advantage despite shooting just 34 percent from the field in the opening 20 minutes of play. The visiting Yellow Jackets (11-1, 6-1 Northeast-10) used a 17-8 run over the first 7:28 of the second half to close to within one at 39-38 with 12:32 remaining, but Stonehill built its lead back to six points on three occasions before taking a 51-43 edge with 6:05 to play on a lay-in by freshman Kelsey Simonds (Bridgewater, Mass.). American International answered back to close to within a bucket at 52-50 with 3:28 remaining on a jumper by senior Debbie Sampson (Brockton, Mass.), and the Yellow Jackets closed to within one in the final minute (55-54) on a lay-in by junior Alissa Rubino (Port Jefferson, N.Y.). Each team committed a turnover on its ensuing possession, and Stupinski stepped up to hit all four of her attempts from the charity stripe that enabled the Skyhawks to ice the triumph and continue their best start in 11 years.

Junior Alisha Collins (Port Chester, N.Y.) added 10 points and five rebounds in the win for Stonehill, which also received nine points, nine rebounds and six blocks from Simonds. Junior Kim Morast (Bridgewater, Mass.) chipped in with seven points and four assists for the Skyhawks, who also received six points and nine boards from junior Tiffany Huggins (Stoughton, Mass.) and six points and seven rebounds from junior Caitlin Kennedy (Baldwin, N.Y.). Stonehill overcame a 29 percent shooting effort from the field by converting 21 American International turnovers in 22 points in posting its 44th victory in 58 series meetings and ending a nine-game Yellow Jacket win streak in the series.

Senior Sharmion Selman (Burlington, Vt.) posted a game-high double-double effort of 22 points and 11 rebounds for American International in the setback, as Sampson and Rubino each chipped in with eight points for the visitors. Sophomore Jen Nnanna (Somerset, N.J.) grabbed seven boards and recorded four blocks as well for the Yellow Jackets, who shot 33 percent from the field and held a 47-45 rebounding advantage.

Stonehill travels to Smithfield, R.I. on Saturday afternoon to take on Bryant in a Northeast-10 outing that tips-off at the Chace Athletic Center beginning at 1:30 p.m., while American International hosts Merrimack in a Northeast-10 match-up on Saturday afternoon at Butova Gymnasium in Springfield, Mass. that also begins at 1:30 p.m.