Sophomore Tori Faieta notched her second-straight double-double and fourth of the year with a game-high 16 points and 11 rebounds today at Pace. (PHOTO BY Bert Lane) |
Ewing and Faieta double-doubles lead Skyhawks in defense battle
PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. (February 2, 2013) – Stonehill College, ranked 15th in this week's USA TODAY Sports/ Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Division II poll, grinded out a 54-50 overtime victory at Pace University in Northeast-10 Conference women's basketball action at Goldstein Fitness Center this afternoon.
Junior Asia Ewing (Westford, Mass./Westford Academy) and sophomore Tori Faieta (Lynn, Mass./Saint Mary's) each notched double-doubles to lead Stonehill to victory in the defensive struggle. Faieta scored ten of her game-high 16 points in the first half to go with 11 rebounds, two assists and a blocked shot for the fourth double-double of her career (all this season and second in a row) as she made 7-of-13 shots from the field and converted both free-throw attempts. Ewing notched her third double-double of the year (11th career) and second straight with 11 points and a game-high 12 rebounds (three offensive) with four assists.
Junior Mary Louise Dixon (Wellesley, Mass./Wellesley) nearly gave Stonehill three double-doubles for the second straight game as she added 11 points and nine boards.
Freshman Yuni Sher (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Long Island Lutheran) led Pace with 14 points on 6-of-14 shooting from the field with six rebounds. Graduate student Brittany Shields (Cold Spring, N.Y./Haldane) added ten points, a team-high nine rebounds and three assists, while senior Allison Cleary (New Windsor, N.Y./Cornwall Central) chipped in nine points, nine rebounds, two assists and a steal.
Both teams were held in check offensively, with Stonehill shooting 33.3-percent (10-for-30) from the field, including 26.1% (6-for-23) from three-point range, while converting 10-of-16 (62.5%) free-throws. Pace was held to 28.4-percent (19-for-67) shooting, including just 3-for-17 (17.6%) from beyond the arc, and converting 9-of-18 (50%) free-throws.
Stonehill kept Pace to just 1-for-9 shooting (11.1%) in overtime, while converting 2-of-4 (50%) shots in the extra session and converting 4-of-8 (50%) free-throws. The Setters overcame a six point deficit (43-37) with 2:30 remaining in regulation to force overtime. Sophomore Margo Hackett (Pawling, N.Y./Pawling) sparked the rally with a three-pointer and then graduate student Jessica Scannell (Cork, Ireland) drained two free-throws to pull the hosts within a point (43-42) with 1:18 left.
Junior Asia Ewing also posted her second-straight double-double (11th career) with 11 points and a game-high 12 rebounds, hitting a key three pointer late in regulation. (PHOTO BY Bert Lane) |
Sher hit a jumper to put Pace in front (44-43) with 41-seconds left and then Ewing drilled a big three-pointer as Stonehill regained the lead (46-44) with 24-seconds on the clock. Pace worked the ball inside on its next possession and Shields knotted the score with nine seconds to go. The Skyhawks got a good look at the other end, but Hackett blocked a shot by Dixon in the lane to extend the game to overtime.
Sophomore Jamie Panton (Essex Junction, Vt./Essex) opened the overtime with a basket for Stonehill, and then Shields answered with a put back at the other end. Faieta scored inside on the Skyhawks next possession and then the Setters drew back within a point (50-49) when Cleary made one of two at the line with 2:56 left.
Shield's basket was the last field goal of the game for Pace and Stonehill extended its lead by converting 4-of-6 free-throws over the final 90-seconds to close out the win, including a pair from Dixon with 15-seconds remaining for a four point lead (53-49).
Stonehill led the entire first half, but never by more than seven, scoring eight of the first ten points in the contest for a six point lead after a three-pointer from sophomore Amy Pelletier (Beverly, Mass./Bishop Fenwick) with 14:34 remaining in the half. Pace drew even (8-8) with a Scannell jumper just over a minute later.
Stonehill opened its first seven point cushion (19-12) of the game after a Paige Marshall (Braintree, Mass./Braintree) three with 6:49 left. The Skyhawks settled for a six point (25-19) halftime lead Pace was able to draw even again (30-30) on a Sher layup with 12:29 to play. Sher put the Setters in front for the first time (32-30) midway through the second half, but the two point lead would be their largest of the day.
After trading baskets, Stonehill regained a six point lead (43-37) after a Pelletier three with 2:30 remaining before Pace's final rally to force overtime.
Stonehill (17-2, 13-2 NE-10) is back in action on Wednesday when it visits Franklin Pierce University for an NE-10 matchup at 5:30 p.m. The Skyhawks return home next Saturday, February 9, to host Merrimack College for "Play for Kay" Day for breast cancer awareness in Merkert Gym at 1:30 p.m. Pace (10-9, 8-7 NE-10) visits American International College on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.
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