#16 Assumption Hands #4/10 Stonehill First Setback, 69-64


Sophomore Kelly Martin netted a career-high 22 points at Assumption tonight. (PHOTO BY Jan Volk/SportsPix)

Martin nets career-best 22 points, but Skyhawks hampered by 25 turnovers 

WORCESTER, Mass. (December 3, 2014) – Assumption College, ranked 16th in this week's D2SIDA Top 25 media poll, handed Stonehill College, ranked 4th by D2SIDA and 10th in the USA TODAY Sports/Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Division II poll, its first loss of the season with a 69-64 victory in Northeast-10 Conference women's basketball action at Laska Gymnasium tonight.

Assumption took advantage of 25 Stonehill turnovers, resulting in a 15-4 advantage in points off , to remain unbeaten through seven games. The Greyhounds finished shooting 41.7-percent (25-for-60) from the field, including 43.3% (13-30) in the first half to take a three point (32-29) halftime lead. Stonehill shot 42.6-percent (23-for-54) from the floor, including 52% (13-25) in the second half, connecting on just 5-of-18 (27.8%) three-pointers, but converting 13-of-14 (92.9%) free-throws. The Skyhawks also posted a 42-30 rebounding advantage.

Senior Caitlin Ackerman (Nashua, New Hampshire/Nashua South) and sophomore Allison Stoddard (East Lyme, Connecticut/East Lyme) combined for 30 points to lead Assumption. Stoddard posted a team-high 16 points, aided by 8-of-10 shooting from the free-throw line, to go with five steals, while Ackerman added 14 points on 5-of-10 shooting from the floor, converting 4-of-5 free-throws, with five rebounds, four assists a blocked shot and a steal.

Sophomores Kelly Carey (Long Beach, New York/Holy Trinity) and Jo Impellizeri (Seaford, New York/St. Anthony's) both chipped in nine points for Assumption, with Impellizeri also chipping in three steals.


Senior Tori Faieta finished just a rebound shy of a double-double tonight. (PHOTO BY Jan Volk/SportsPix)

Sophomore Kelly Martin (Scituate, Massachusetts/Scituate) established a new career high for the second straight game by leading all scorers with 22 points on 8-of-13 shooting, including 3-for-6 from three-point range, and converting all three free-throws to go with eight rebounds and three assists. Senior Tori Faieta (Lynn, Massachusetts/Saint Mary's) finished just a rebound shy of a double-double by adding 15 points, aided by 7-for-7 shooting from the free-throw line, a game-high nine rebounds, an assist and blocked shot. Freshman Samantha Hyslip (Westford, Massachusetts/Westford Academy) chipped in a season-high nine points on 4-of-7 shooting from the floor, with five rebounds, an assist and steal.

Stonehill scored the first five points of the game and raced out to an eight point lead (12-4) after a Hyslip layup less than five minutes into the game. The Skyhawks lead reached 11 (19-8) on a Faieta layup with 11:35 remaining in the half. Assumption used a 10-2 run to close the gap to three (23-20) after an Ackerman jumper with 6:22 on the clock.

Martin put Stonehill back up five (27-22) with 2:41 to go before the break, but Assumption scored ten straight points to take its first lead (32-27) in the final minute of the half after six straight points by Stoddard. Assumption settled for the three point halftime lead (32-29) and then Stonehill regained the lead (35-34) following a Martin jumper less than a minute and a half into the second half.

The teams traded the lead back and forth until Stonehill was able to take a four point cushion (49-45) on a layup from Faieta with 13:43 to play. Assumption scored the next seven points to reclaim the lead (52-49) after a three-point play from Carey at the midway point of the half. The Greyhounds worked the lead to eight (61-53) after a pair of Ackerman free-throws with just 1:37 to play.

Stonehill was able to get back within a possession (63-61) with 31-seconds to go after five points from Hyslip, including a three-point play, and a triple by senior Amy Pelletier (Beverly, Massachusetts/Bishop Fenwick). Assumption held and made four straight free-throws around a Skyhawks turnover to offset at Martin three-pointer that cut the gap to three (67-64) with nine seconds left. Stoddard made six straight free-throws in the last half minute to clinch the win, including a pair after Martin's last three.

Stonehill (5-1, 3-1 NE-10) is back in action on Saturday when it visits Southern New Hampshire University for an NE-10 matchup at 1:30 p.m. The game will be broadcast live by NESNplus and NESN National. The Skyhawks return to Merkert Gym next Wednesday, December 10, to host Saint Anselm College at 5:30 p.m. Assumption (7-0, 4-0 NE-10) hosts Merrimack College on Saturday at 1:30 p.m.

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