Junior Tori Faieta posted her second-straight 20 point game to lead the Skyhawks to victory. (PHOTO BY Jan Volk/SportsPix)

Faieta posts second-straight 20 point effort to lead Skyhawks to victory

EASTON, Mass. (January 11, 2014) – Stonehill College, among teams receiving votes in this week's USA TODAY Sports Division II poll, pulled away in the second half to claim a 76-68 victory over Pace University in Northeast-10 Conference women's basketball action at Merkert Gymnasium this afternoon.

Junior forward Tori Faieta (Lynn, Mass./Saint Mary's) led the way for Stonehill with her second-straight 20-plus point effort as she finished with a game-high matching 20 points on 10-of-16 shooting from the field to go with eight rebounds, an assist and blocked shot. Classmate Amy Pelletier (Beverly, Mass./Bishop Fenwick) scored 11 of her 18 points in the first half as she connected on 6-of-11 shots, including 4-for-6 from three-point range, while converting both free-throw attempts. Senior Mary Louise Dixon (Wellesley, Mass./Wellesley) contributed 14 points, aided by 6-of-7 shooting from the free-throw line, eight rebounds, five assists and two steals. Sophomore Paige Marshall (Braintree, Mass./Braintree) chipped in 11 points, converting 9-of-10 free-throws, with four assists, three boards, a blocked shot and steal.

Stonehill finished shooting 43.3-percent (26-for-60) from the field, including 46.7% (14-30) in the first half, while converting 86.4% (19-22) of its free-throws. The Skyhawks held a 38-29 rebounding advantage, aiding in a 19-5 edge in second chance points. Pace finished shooting 43.9-percent (25-for-57) from the field, including 53.1% (17-32) in the first half to take a two point lead into halftime (40-38), but Stonehill was able to limit the Setters to 32% (8-25) in the second. Pace converted 12-of-14 (85.7%) free-throw attempts.

Junior Margo Hackett (Pawling, N.Y./Pawling) led Pace with a team-high 20 points on 6-of-13 shooting from the field while making all six free-throw attempts to go with two rebounds. Sophomore Yuni Sher (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Long Island Lutheran) notched a double-double with 11 points and a game-high ten rebounds to go with two assists, while freshman Shanice Allen (Riverhead, N.Y./Riverhead) chipped in 14 points on 6-of-11 shooting, including 2-for-5 from three-point range, with a pair of assists.

Junior Amy Pelletier contributed 18 points, connecting on 4-of-6 three-pointers. (PHOTO BY Emily Reynolds)

Trailing by two at halftime (40-38), Stonehill outscored Pace 22-5 over the first ten minutes of the second half to reclaim a double-figure lead and extend it to 15 (60-45) on a three-point play by sophomore Shannon Brown (Las Vegas, Nev./Centennial). The Skyhawks scored the first seven points of the half behind a pair of free-throws and a three-pointer by Pelletier. Stonehill stretched its lead to ten (55-45) with a layup from junior Ashley Gendron (Auburn, N.H./Manchester Memorial) with 13:42, while Faieta gave the Skyhawks a 12 point lead with a jumper with 11;25 remaining.

Stonehill's lead was 14 (70-56) after a Marshall layup with 5:37 to play when Pace made one last rush. The Setters drew within four (72-68) with a 12-2 run, capped by a Hackett layup with 1:24 on the clock. Stonehill held there, however, with Marshall and Dixon both draining a pair of free-throws over the last 43-seconds while the Setters missed their final three shots from the floor.

Stonehill scored the first seven points of the contest and led by as much as 11 (18-7) in the first half after a three-pointer by junior Jamie Panton (Essex Junction, Vt./Essex) with 13:05 remaining in the frame. The Skyhawks lead was still ten (21-11) following a Faieta jumper with 10:58 on the clock before Pace reeled off six straight points to close within four (21-17) on a three-point play by Sher.

Pelletier stemmed the tide initially with a three-pointer on Stonehill's next possession, but Pace took its first lead of the day (25-24) with a Sher bucket with 8:33 remaining in the half. Stonehill reclaimed a four point cushion (35-31) on a Faieta layup with 4:04 to go before Pace closed out the half with a 9-3 spurt to carry a two point lead (40-38) into halftime after a Hackett layup and then neither team scored over the final 1:19.

Stonehill (9-4, 6-3 NE-10) is right back in action here at Merkert Gym on Tuesday when it hosts American International College for an NE-10 clash at 5:30 p.m. Pace (2-12, 1-7 NE-10) travels to Southern New Hampshire University on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.

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