Stonehill Rolls Past Caldwell, 69-51


Senior Tori Faieta posted her second-straight double-double to open the season, netting a career-high 27 points, including the 1000th of her career to earn Tournament MVP honors. (PHOTO BY Emily Reynolds)

Faieta named MVP, becomes 27th 1,000-point scorer in program history

EASTON, Mass. (November 15, 2014) – Stonehill College, among teams receiving votes in the USA TODAY Sports/Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Division II preseason poll, rode an MVP performance from senior Tori Faieta (Lynn, Massachusetts/Saint Mary's) to a 69-51 victory over Caldwell College in the opening game of day two of the Stonehill Tip-Off Classic on Paula Sullivan Court at Merkert Gymnasium this afternoon.

Prior to the game, Stonehill formally dedicated the court at Merkert Gym in the name of Paula Sullivan, who retired over the summer after 43 years of service to the College, including 25 seasons as head coach of the women's basketball program where she compiled a career record of 479-159 (.751).

Faieta wrapped up Most Valuable Player honors of the Stonehill Tip-Off Classic with her second straight double-double (18th career) to lead Stonehill to the win and became the 27th 1,000-point scorer in program history in the process. Senior Amy Pelletier (Beverly, Massachusetts/Bishop Fenwick) joined Faieta on the All-Tournament team from Stonehill, as well as Assumption senior Caitlin Ackerman (Nashua, New Hampshire/Nashua South) and junior Kelly Conley (Ellington, Connecticut/Ellington) and Caldwell senior Emily Caswell (Wakefield, Rhode Island/The Prout School).

Faieta poured in a career-high 27 points on 12-of-20 shooting from the field, converting 3-of-4 free-throws, to go with a game-high 12 rebounds, two assists and two blocked shots. She capped her night with the 1,000th point of her career with 3:32 remaining in the contest. Pelletier added a season-high 18 points on 7-of-13 shooting, including 4-for-8 from three-point range, and two assists. She moves within 51 points of becoming the Skyhawks' next 1,000-point scorer, finishing the day with 949 career points.


Senior Amy Pelletier joined Faieta on the All-Tournament team after netting 18 points today. (PHOTO BY Mike Tureski/SportsPix)

Junior Paige Marshall (Braintree, Massachusetts/Braintree) added nine points, three rebounds, four assists and three steals for Stonehill, while freshman Samantha Hyslip (Westford, Massachusetts/Westford Academy) pulled down eight rebounds and blocked two shots.

Stonehill finished shooting 41.9-percent (26-for-62) from the field, including 48.6% (17-35) in the opening half to open a 19-point lead (47-26) lead by halftime. Caldwell was held to 33.9% (21-62) shooting, including 32.4% (11-34) in the second half, connecting on just 2-of-14 (14.3%) three-pointers, compared to 8-for-26 (30.8%) for the Skyhawks.

Caswell led Caldwell with a double-double effort of 11 points and 11 rebounds, shooting 4-for-9 from the field and 3-for-4 from the line. Freshman Sharell Sanders (Dorchester, Massachusetts/St. Mary's) added 12 points on 6-of-13 shooting, four steals and two rebounds, while sophomore Antoinette Pilla (Scarsdale, New York/Ardsley) chipped in seven points and two boards off the bench.

Stonehill never trailed in the game that was tied only once (2-2) after the opening tip, staking out a 15 point lead (22-7) after a Pelletier three-pointer seven minutes into the game. The Skyhawks stretched the lead to 16 (25-9) with a three by sophomore Kelly Martin (Scituate, Massachusetts/Scituate) midway through the half.

Caldwell closed within 12 (25-13) after two free-throws by junior Lisa Rovatsos (Bayonne, New Jersey/Bayonne) a minute later. Stonehill wouldn't let the lead dip into single digits the rest of the way, turning a 13 point lead (28-15) with 8:17 left in the half into a 22 point lead (39-17) after a Faieta layup with 5:53 on the clock.

Stonehill's halftime lead was 21 (47-26) and it fluctuated between a game-high 24 points and 16 points the rest of the way. Faieta gave the Skyhawks their game-high 24 point cushion (61-37) with nine minutes to go.

Stonehill (2-0, 0-0 NE-10) returns to action on Wednesday when it opens its Northeast-10 Conference schedule at Merrimack College at 5:30 p.m. The Skyhawks return home on Tuesday, November 25, when it hosts Franklin Pierce University here at Merkert Gym at 5:30 p.m. Caldwell (0-2, 0-0 CACC) hosts the University of Bridgeport on Thursday at 7 p.m.

Assumption (2-0, 0-0 NE-10) handed Dominican (N.Y.) College (0-2 0-0 CACC) a 59-40 setback in game two this afternoon. Conley led the Greyhounds with 17 points on 6-of-12 shooting, including 3-for-4 from three-point range, while converting 3-of-5 free-throws to go with six rebounds and three assists. Ackerman added 13 points, nine rebounds (six offensive), two assists and a steal. Sophomore Sara Ismail (Clifton, New Jersey/St. Mary's) led three Dominican players with a team-high eight points in the contest, adding eight rebounds and four blocked shots.

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Game Highlights