Stonehill Bounces Back at Southern N.H., 79-58


Senior Mary Louise Dixon posted a second-straight double-double to lead the Skyhawks back into the win column this afternoon. (PHOTO BY Emily Reynolds)

Dixon's second straight double-double lifts Skyhawks to victory 

MANCHESTER, N.H. (February 15, 2014) – Stonehill College, receiving votes in this week's USA TODAY Sports Division II poll, bounced back from a tough midweek loss with a dominant 79-58 decision over Southern New Hampshire University in Northeast-10 Conference women's basketball action at SNHU Fieldhouse this afternoon.

Senior Mary Louise Dixon (Wellesley, Mass./Wellesley) posted her second straight double-double (ninth career) to lead Stonehill to its sixth win in seven games with a game-high 18 points on 7-of-12 shooting, including 3-for-5 from three-point range, to go with ten assists, five rebounds, three steals and a blocked shot in 29 minutes of play. Classmate and co-captain Asia Ewing (Westford, Mass./Westford Academy) added a season-high 15 points off the bench, connecting on 6-of-12 shots from the field, including 1-for-2 from beyond the arc, and both free-throw attempts to go with six rebounds.

Junior Amy Pelletier (Beverly, Mass./Bishop Fenwick) contributed 12 points on 4-of-6 shooting from long distance and three assists, while sophomore Shannon Brown (Las Vegas, Nev./Centennial) posted ten points on 5-of-10 shooting, four rebounds, three assists, a block and steal.


Senior Asia Ewing scored a season-high 15 points off the bench for the Skyhawks. (PHOTO BY Emily Reynolds)

Sophomore Erin Doherty (Marshfield, Mass./Marshfield) notched a double-double for Southern New Hampshire with 11 points and a game-high ten rebounds, shooting 5-for-9 from the floor. Junior Lorreta Rocha (Espargos, Cape Verde) led the Penmen scorers with 13 points as she made 5-of-8 shots from the field, including her lone three-point attempt and both free-throws, adding eight rebounds, four assists and a steal. Junior Kaylea Griffin (Green Springs, Ohio/Clyde) rounded out the SNHU double-figure scorers with ten points on 5-of-6 shooting.

Stonehill shot 51.5-percent (32-for-62) from the field, including 60% (18-30) in the first half to open a 16 point advantage (42-26) by halftime. The Skyhawks buried 11-of-20 (55%) three-pointers, including 5-for-9 (55.6%) in the opening half, and held a 16-11 edge in points off turnovers and 25-9 advantage in bench scoring. SNHU connected at 41.9% (26-62), including 40% (26-62) in the opening frame, and couldn't match the visitors from downtown, hitting just 2-of-11 (18.2%) threes. The Penmen did hold a 36-30 rebounding advantage.

SNHU held an early three point lead (9-6) two and a half minutes into the game after five straight points from freshman Sara Ryan (Quincy, Mass./Archbishop Williams). Stonehill started to take charge with a 14-2 run to take a nine point lead (20-11) after a three-pointer from junior Tori Faieta (Lynn, Mass./Saint Mary's) just past the midway point of the half. Dixon, Ewing and senior Abbey Lalime (Orleans, Vt./Lake Region Union) sparked the run with three-pointers.

Stonehill's lead was eight (25-17) with 8:01 remaining in the half when it reeled off ten straight points for an 18 point cushion (35-17) following a jumper by junior Jamie Panton (Essex Junction, Vt./Essex) with 5:04 to play before halftime. Dixon and Ewing both scored four points for the Skyhawks during the stretch. Stonehill carried the 16 point (42-26) lead into halftime and then Pelletier quickly pushed the advantage to 19 (45-26) with a three-pointer to open the second half.

SNHU worked its deficit down to ten (53-43) on a Rocha basket with 11:17 still to play, but Stonehill wouldn't let the hosts any closer the rest of the way. The Skyhawks regained a 17 point lead (60-43) with 8:40 remaining after five straight points from Dixon. Stonehill's lead extended to 18 (74-56) with a Pelletier triple with 1:45 left and then finished at the game-high final margin.

Stonehill (16-6, 13-5 NE-10) returns home on Wednesday to host Franklin Pierce University for a key NE-10 clash at 5:30 p.m. Southern New Hampshire (7-16, 5-13 NE-10) hosts top-ranked Bentley University on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.

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