Senior Tori Faieta led a balance Stonehill offense with 12 points, seven rebounds and three blocks. (PHOTO BY Jan Volk/SportsPix) |
Skyhawks claim coast to coast win with balanced offensive effort
EASTON, Mass. (January 31, 2015) – Stonehill College, ranked 12th in this week's D2SIDA Top 25 and 14th in the USA TODAY Sports/Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Division II polls, led from start to finish in cruising to its 11th win in 12 games after a 66-42 triumph over The College of Saint Rose in Northeast-10 Conference women's basketball action as part of Alumni Day at the College on Paula Sullivan Court at Merkert Gymnasium today.
Senior forward Tori Faieta (Lynn, Massachusetts/Saint Mary's) led a balanced Stonehill offense with 12 points aided by 6-for-8 shooting from the free throw line to go with seven rebounds and three blocked shots. Classmate Amy Pelletier (Beverly, Massachusetts/Bishop Fenwick) contributed ten points, four rebounds and two assists, while junior Shannon Brown (Las Vegas, Nevada/Centennial) added nine points on 4-of-6 shooting, including 1-for-2 from long distance, off the bench. Sophomore Kelly Martin (Scituate, Massachusetts/Scituate) chipped in by dishing out eight assists to go with six points and five boards.
Freshmen Staci Barrett (Elmont, New York/Long Island Lutheran) was the only Saint Rose player in double figures with ten points (eight first half) on 5-of-11 shooting with six rebounds, two assists and two steals. Junior Keyontae Williams (Fredericksburg, Virginia/James Monroe) added eight points on 4-of-7 shooting, while senior Jamie Hutcheson (Ancaster, Ontario/Bishop Tonnos) pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds.
Stonehill finished shooting 44.6-percent (25-for-56) from the field, including 46.9% (15-for-32) in the first half in building a 22-point lead by halftime. The Skyhawks converted 11-of-15 (73.3%) free-throws and outscored Saint Rose 16-8 in points off turnovers. Saint Rose was held to 29-percent (18-for-62) shooting, including 7-for-26 (26.9%) in the first half, connecting on 3-of-19 (15.8%) three-pointers and converting just 3-of-8 (37.5%) free-throws.
Senior Amy Pelletier added ten points for the Skyhawks. (PHOTO BY Emily Reynolds) |
Stonehill scored the first four points and raced out to a 15 point lead (17-2) before Saint Rose added a second basket and never looked back. Faieta scored six points during the opening stretch and Martin converted a key three-point play before back to back baskets from freshman Samantha Hyslip (Westford, Massachusetts/Westford Academy) pushed the lead into double figured for the first time five minutes into the game, where it would stay for the remaining 35 minutes.
Stonehill extended its lead to 21 (26-5) with a Pelletier three-pointer with 8:37 left in the half. The Skyhawks stretched their advantage to as much as 24 (36-12) following Brown's triple with two minutes left before taking a 22 point cushion (39-17) into halftime.
Saint Rose cut the deficit to 14 (46-32) with a pair of free-throws by sophomore Taylor Nazon (Chicago, Illinois/Trinity) six and a half minutes into the second half, but that would be as close as the game would get. Stonehill regained its 20 point margin (54-34) after a Brown layup with 9:15 on the clock before reclaiming its game-high 24 point bulge (60-36) after two Martin free-throws with 5:37 left.
Stonehill (16-2, 12-2 NE-10), ranked second in the D2SIDA East Regional poll, is right back in action here at Merkert Gym on Wednesday when it returns to Northeast Divisional play by hosting Merrimack College at 5:30 p.m. Saint Rose (9-11, 5-9 NE-10) hosts American International College on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.
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| Game Highlights |