Sophomore Asia Ewing notched her fifth double-double of the season with 15 points and ten rebounds with four assists and a steal for the Skyhawks today. (PHOTO BY Bert Lane)

Four Skyhawks in double figures in balanced offensive effort

Four players scored in double-figures to lead a balanced Stonehill effort that used great ball movement to rack up 24 assists on 29 baskets in the contest while turning the ball over just eight times. Sophomore Asia Ewing (Westford, Mass./Westford Academy) led the way with her fifth double-double of the season (sixth career) as she netted a team-high 15 points, aided by 3-for-5 shooting from three-point range, and ten rebounds with four assists and a steal.

Freshman Amy Pelletier (Beverly, Mass./Bishop Fenwick) added 14 points on 5-of-9 shooting from the field, including 4-for-8 from three-point range, with three assists and two rebounds. Senior Priscilla Dodoo (Worcester, Mass./Burncoat) totaled 12 points, shooting 4-for-6 from the field and converting all four free-throws, with five rebounds, while freshmanTori Faieta (Lynn, Mass./Saint Mary's) chipped in 12 points, two boards and three assists. Sophomore Mary Louise Dixon (Wellesley, Mass./Wellesley) dished out a season-high ten assists to go with nine points, five rebounds and three steals.

Stonehill finished shooting 49.2-percent (29-for-59) from the field, including 50% (16-32) in the second half, and converting 11-of-12 (91.7%) free-throws for the contest. Rebounds were even at 35 each, but Le Moyne outscored the hosts 12-2 in second chance points, while the Skyhawks posted an 18-10 advantage in points off turnovers.

Freshman Amy Pelletier drained 4-of-8 three-pointers for 14 points for the Skyhawks. (PHOTO BY Bert Lane)

Senior Katie Hart (Constantia, N.Y./Central Square) led Le Moyne with a game-high 18 points on 9-of-15 shooting from the field to go with eight rebounds (four offensive) and two blocked shots. Classmate Morgan Rowland (Latham, N.Y./Shaker) added 17 points on 7-of-14 shooting, including 2-for-5 from three-point range, with four assists, four blocked shots and three steals. Senior Emma Cronk (Parham, Ontario/Sydenham) contributed ten points, seven rebound (five offensive) and two assists.

Le Moyne was held to 38.7-percent (24-for-62) shooting from the field, including 29.4% (10-34) in the second half, while hitting 4-of-14 (28.6%) three-pointers and converted 4-of-6 (66.7%) free-throws.

Stonehill led by four (35-31) at halftime after leading by as much as 15 in the opening half. Dodoo scored a layup to open the second half, but Rowland scored six straight points on a three-pointer and conventional three point play to force the game's third tie (37-37) 1:31 in. Ewing answered with a three to put the Skyhawks back in front, but the Dolphins took their first lead since early in the contest (42-40) after a Cronk layup with 15:27 remaining.

After the teams traded baskets, Stonehill reeled off a 16-3 run to take a 13 point lead (60-47) on a Pelletier three with 6:35 to play. She had five points in all during that burst that proved to be the game-clinching run. The Skyhawks extended the lead to 15 (68-53) after a Ewing three with 4:36 to play and then pushed the advantage to a game-high 22 (77-55) after a layup by senior Tania Williams (South Setauket, N.Y./Ward-Melville) with 1:35 remaining. Stonehill held Le Moyne scoreless for over four minutes down the stretch to seal the win.

Stonehill appeared poised to run away early, using a 19-3 run to jump out to a 14 point lead (21-7) after a layup by Ewing with 11:40 left in the first half, with Pelletier drilling three three-pointers during that stretch. The Skyhawks extended the lead to 15 (29-14) after a layup by sophomore Morghan Farnsworth (Cornish, N.Y./Windsor (Vt.)) with 5:33 left in the half. Le Moyne answered with a 15-2 run to closed back within two (31-29) with a Rowland layup with 1:26 to play in the frame. Rowland had eight points in all during that stretch, before Stonehill pushed the lead to four points heading into halftime.

Stonehill (8-7, 4-7 NE-10) is back in action on Tuesday when it hosts American International College for an NE-10 clash at Merkert Gym at 5:30 p.m. Le Moyne (3-11, 1-10 NE-10) visits the University of Massachusetts Lowell on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.