Dixon Leads #14 Stonehill Past Southern N.H., 71-62


Senior Mary Louise Dixon led the Skyhawks with 21 points, nine assists, six rebounds and six steals. (PHOTO BY Jan Volk/SportsPix)

Dixon fills box score with 21 points, six rebounds, nine assists and six steals 

EASTON, Mass. (December 7, 2013) – Stonehill College, ranked 14th in this week's USA TODAY Sports Division II coaches' poll, closed out its first semester home schedule with a hard-fought 71-62 victory over Southern New Hampshire University in Northeast-10 Conference women's basketball action at Merkert Gymnasium this afternoon.

Senior co-captain Mary Louise Dixon (Wellesley, Mass./Wellesley) fired Stonehill to its third straight win with a game-high matching 21 points on 7-of-15 shooting, including 4-for-8 from three-point range, to go with nine assists, six rebounds and a career-high matching six steals. Junior Amy Pelletier (Beverly, Mass./Bishop Fenwick) was the only other Skyhawk in double-figures with 18 points (16 second half) on 7-of-11 shooting, including 3-for-7 from three-point range.

Sophomore Paige Marshall (Braintree, Mass./Braintree) contributed nine points and five rebounds (four offensive), while junior Tori Faieta (Lynn, Mass./Saint Mary's) posted eight points, four boards and three blocked shots. Freshman Kelly Martin (Scituate, Mass./Scituate) chipped in with seven points, aided by 5-of-8 shooting at the line, with four rebounds and two assists off the bench.

Sophomore Amra Elezovic (Manchester, N.H./Manchester Memorial) was the lone Southern New Hampshire player in double-figures, matching Dixon with a game-high 21 points on 9-of-15 shooting, including 2-4 for beyond the arc, converting her lone free-throw attempt to go with three rebounds and a pair of blocked shots. Sophomore Erin Doherty (Marshfield, Mass./Marshfield) added eight points on 4-of-6 shooting with a game-high nine rebounds, while junior Kaylea Griffin (Green Springs, Ohio/Clyde) chipped in eight points.

Stonehill finished shooting 45-percent (27-for-60) from the field after hitting at 53.6% (15-28) in the second half. The Skyhawks were 8-for-22 (36.4%) from beyond the arc overall and converted just 9-of-16 (56.3%) free-throw attempts. Stonehill held a 35-30 rebounding edge, including 13 offensive rebounds, but was outscored 8-2 on second chance points and held an 18-13 advantage for points off turnovers.


Junior Amy Pelletier scored 16 of her 18 points in the second half to help the Skyhawks clinch victory. (PHOTO BY Jan Volk/SportsPix)

Southern New Hampshire shot 47.3-percent (26-for-55) from the field, including 50% (13-26) in the first half compared to 37.5% (12-32) for Stonehill but still trailed by five (33-28) at the break. The Penmen connected on 3-of-7 (42.9%) three-pointers and converted 7-of-9 (77.8%) free-throws.

Stonehill jumped out to a seven point lead (11-4) after a three-pointer by Dixon just over five minutes into the game. Southern New Hampshire bounced right back with a 10-2 run to take the lead (14-13) on a Griffin layup with 11 minutes to go. The teams traded the lead back and forth until the Skyhawks reeled off a 14-1 run to open a 12 point lead (33-21) after Martin made one of two at the line with 2:23 remaining in the half. The run ended with a string of five straight points at the free-throw line as Stonehill went without a field goal for the final 4:21 of the half.

Southern New Hampshire finally took advantage of the Stonehill drought and closed back within five (33-28) at the break, capped by a jumper from junior Brooke Springfield (Jaffrey, N.H./Conant). The Penmen drew within four (35-31) in the opening minute of the second half by way of a three-point play from Springfield.

Stonehill responded with a 13-2 run over the next three minutes to open a 15 point cushion (48-33) with 16:11 remaining following back to back three-pointers from Dixon and Marshall. SNHU pulled back within eight (52-44) on a Griffin layup with 11:47 on the clock, but Pelletier broke a four minute scoring drought for the Skyhawks with a three to push the lead back into double-figures (55-44) with 10:33 to play.

Southern New Hampshire crept back within six (62-56) after a three-pointer from freshman Sara Ryan (Quincy, Mass./Archbishop Williams) with 4:37 still to play. Stonehill dug deep and got two straight baskets by Dixon to regain its double-figure lead (66-56) with 3:15 to go. The Skyhawks were able to keep the Penmen at bay from there and seal their sixth win over the last seven.  

Stonehill (7-2, 4-1 NE-10) closes out its first semester schedule on Tuesday night at Saint Anselm College at 5:30 p.m. The Skyhawks don't return home for over a month when it hosts Pace University at Merkert Gym on Saturday, January 11, at 1:30 p.m. Southern New Hampshire (5-3, 3-2 NE-10) visits Assumption College on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.

For the latest on Stonehill Athletics, follow the Skyhawks via social media on Twitter and Facebook. Fans can also download the Stonehill Skyhawks mobile app on iTunes and the Android Market.

Trisha Brown postgame interview