#6/23 Stonehill Turns Back Franklin Pierce, 73-62


Sophomore Kelly Martin posted career-highs of 19 points and nine rebounds to lead the Skyhawks to a fifth-straight win to start the year. (PHOTO BY Emily Reynolds)

Martin nets career-high 19 points as Skyhawks use late run for fifth-straight win 

EASTON, Mass. (November 25, 2014) – Stonehill College, ranked sixth in this week's D2SIDA Top 25 poll and 23rd in the USA TODAY Sports/Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Division II poll, used a late run in each half to secure its fifth straight win to open the season after a 73-62 victory over Franklin Pierce University in Northeast-10 Conference women's basketball action on Paula Sullivan Court at Merkert Gymnasium tonight.

Sophomore Kelly Martin (Scituate, Massachusetts/Scituate) led three Stonehill players in double-figures with career-highs of 19 points and nine rebounds to go with three assists and a blocked shot as she made 8-of-13 shots from the field and converted all three free-throw attempts for the night. Senior Tori Faieta (Lynn, Massachusetts/Saint Mary's) added 16 points on 6-of-13 shooting, six rebounds, four blocked shots, three assists and two steals, while classmate Amy Pelletier (Beverly, Massachusetts/Bishop Fenwick) contributed 12 points, aided by 2-for-3 shooting from three, and five assists. Freshman Samantha Hyslip (Westford, Massachusetts/Westford Academy) chipped in a season-high eight points and nine rebounds, with classmate Courtney Walsh (Windham, New Hampshire/Central Catholic) dishing out five assists.

Stonehill shot 43.5-percent (27-for-62) from the field, including 45.2% (14-31) in the second half, connecting on 6-of-15 (40%) three-pointers and converting 13-of-17 (76.5%) free-throws. Franklin Pierce finished shooting 38.1-percent (24-for-63) from the field after making just 9-of-31 (29%) shots in the first half. The Ravens converted 11-of-13 (84.6%) free-throws for the night.

Junior Kara Charette (Fairhaven, Massachusetts/Fairhaven) scored 15 of her team-high 19 points for Franklin Pierce in the second half, overcoming 1-for-9 shooting over the first 20 minutes to hit 7-of-18 shots overall, while converting all five free-throws, to go with six rebounds and two assists. Postgrad Jessica Hurd (Kegworth, England) posted a double-double with 12 points and a game-high 13 rebounds on 6-of-12 shooting with two assists and two blocked shots. Classmate Kate McDonald (Fall River, Massachusetts/BMC Durfee) chipped in eight points, five assists, four steals and two boards.


Senior Tori Faieta filled the stat sheet with 16 points, six rebounds, three assists, four blocks and two steals. (PHOTO BY Jan Volk/SportsPix)

Stonehill's lead was one (49-48) after a layup from Charette with 7:44 remaining when the Skyhawks outscored the visitors 8-2 over the next two minutes to open a seven point lead (57-50) with 6:01 to go after five straight points from Martin. Senior Ashley Gendron (Auburn, New Hampshire/Manchester Memorial) also drained a three-pointer during the run.

A three-point play from Charette drew Franklin Pierce within four (59-55) with 4:52 on the clock, but Stonehill scored the next nine points to open a 13 point lead (68-55) after two free-throws from Martin with 57-seconds to go that sealed the win. Pelletier drilled a key three-pointer during the run and the Skyhawks converted 7-of-8 free-throws in the final minute to sew things up.

Stonehill used a 13-4 run midway through the first half to turn a four point deficit into a five point lead (19-14) after a Faieta jumper with 7:31 to play in the half. Franklin Pierce pulled within two (21-19) on a layup by sophomore Allison Palma (Stamford, Connecticut/Trinity Catholic) with 4:32 remaining in the half, but the Skyhawks used an 11-2 spurt to open its first 11 point cushion of the game (32-21) on a Martin jumper with 1:27 to go before the break.

Stonehill settled for a nine point halftime lead (32-23) and then Franklin Pierce opened the second half with a 14-4 run to regain the lead (37-36) 4:15 into the half after four straight points by Charette, while Hurd added four points for the Ravens over that stretch. The teams traded the lead back and forth for the next eight minutes before the Skyhawks pulled away late.

Stonehill (5-0, 3-0 NE-10) is off until next Wednesday when it visits Assumption College for a Northeast-10 battle at 5:30 p.m. The Skyhawks return to Merkert Gym on Wednesday, December 10, to host Saint Anselm College at 5:30 p.m. Franklin Pierce (3-2, 2-1 NE-10) hosts Caldwell University on Saturday at 1 p.m.

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