Senior Emily Rousseau scored a game-high 17 points to go with four rebounds, four assists and three steals in tonight's win. (PHOTO BY Richard Orr)

McWhirter and Rousseau combine for 33 points to lead Skyhawks to win

Senior guards Kristen McWhirter (Melvin Village, N.H./New Hampton Prep) and Emily Rousseau (Biddeford, Maine/Biddeford) combined for 33 of Stonehill's 59 points on the night to lead the way. Rousseau scored ten of her game-high 17 points in the second half as she finished shooting 7-for-14 from the field and converted both free-throw attempts to go with four rebounds, four assists, three steals and a blocked shot. McWhirter finished with 16 points, aided by 5-for-13 shooting from three-point range, three assists and two rebounds.

Junior Tania Williams (South Setauket, N.Y./Ward-Melville) added eight points, a game-high eight rebounds and four steals for the Skyhawks, while classmate Cori O'Kane (Pocasset, Mass./Cardinal Spellman) chipped in eight points, shooting 3-for-5 from the field and draining both three-point attempts, three assists, two boards and two blocks.

Junior Marley Klunk (York, Pa./Red Lion Senior) was the lone Dominican player in double-figures with 12 points, seven rebounds and three steals. Sophomore Shannon Lavelle (Floral Park, N.Y./Archbishop Molloy) added nine points and two assists, while senior Shanice Scully (St. Albans, N.Y./Manhattan Center for Math & Science) chipped in eight points and two boards.

Senior Kristen McWhirter canned five three's on her way to 16 points on the night. (PHOTO BY Richard Orr)

Stonehill finished shooting 40-percent (20-for-50) from the field after making 52% (13-25) of its shots in the second half to pull away. The Skyhawks canned 8-of-18 (44.4%) three-pointers and converted 11-of-13 (84.6%) free-throw attempts on the night. Dominican shot 37.5% (18-48) from the field, including 34.6% (9-26) in the decisive second half, and made just 3-of-11 (27.3%) three's. The Chargers outrebounded their hosts by a 35-37 margin, with the Skyhawks posting a 27-21 edge in points off turnovers.

Both teams struggled for momentum in the first half, but Stonehill was able to open an eight point lead (18-10) after an O'Kane three with 6:29 to go before the break. Dominican scored the next seven points to draw within one (18-17) on a layup from Lavelle with 3:05 to go. The Skyhawks took a four point lead (25-21) into the lockerroom as Rousseau closed out the half with a left-handed running three-pointer as time expired.

McWhirter followed up a Klunk layup with a three-pointer to push the Stonehill lead to five (28-23) to open the second half. Dominican reeled off an 8-0 run over the next two minutes to take a three-point lead (31-28) after a layup from junior Meghan Murphy (Carmel, N.Y./Carmel) with 17:16 left. The Skyhawks followed with a 7-0 spurt to regain the lead and open a four-point cushion (35-31) after a McWhirter three and Rousseau layup with 15:27 to play.

Junior Kaity Lent (Vineland, N.J./Sacred Heart) forced the fifth tie of the contest (42-42) for Dominican with a three-pointer with 10:30 left, but Stonehill responded with a 13-2 run over the next four minutes to open a game-high 11 point lead (55-44) after an O'Kane three with 6:07 to go. The Chargers closed within six (55-49) after a Klunk layup with 3:16 remaining, but Rousseau scored back to back baskets to push the lead back to double-figures (59-49) with two minutes left and neither team scored the rest of the way.

Stonehill (3-1, 0-1 NE-10) is back in action tomorrow when it faces Caldwell College (1-1, 0-0 CACC) on day two of the Stonehill Classic at 3:30 p.m. Caldwell posted a 63-57 win over Assumption College (1-1, 1-0 NE-10) in today's opening game. Dominican (2-1, 0-0 CACC) and Assumption will square off in game one on Saturday at 1:30 p.m.