Women's Basketball Fires Past Dominican, 84-74


Junior Kelly Martin posted her second career double-double and was named to the All-Tournament team. (PHOTO BY Peter Buehner)

Martin double-double finishes off 2-0 weekend for Skyhawks 

WORCESTER, Mass. (November 14, 2015) – Stonehill College, among teams receiving votes in the USA TODAY Sports/Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Division II poll and ranked first in the D2SIDA East Regional poll, shot nearly 55-percent from the field to claim an 84-74 victory over Dominican (N.Y.) College on day two of the Assumption College Tip-Off Classic at Laska Gymnasium this evening.

Junior guard Kelly Martin (Scituate, Massachusetts/Scituate) led Stonehill with her first double-double of the season (second career – both on assists) with a season-high 23 points and ten assists to go with six rebounds and three steals, shooting 5-of-9 from the field, including 2-for-4 from three-point range, while converting 11-of-12 free-throws. Martin was joined on the Tip-Off Classic All-Tournament team by sophomore Courtney Walsh (Windham, New Hampshire/Central Catholic) who added 12 points on 5-of-9 shooting, three assists and two steals.

Sophomore Samantha Hyslip (Westford, Massachusetts/Westford Academy) contributed 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting, two rebounds and two assists, while senior Paige Marshall (Braintree, Massachusetts/Braintree) recorded 11 points, four boards and six assists. Freshman Maty Diabate (Holden, Massachusetts/Wachusett Regional) rounded out the Skyhawks five double-figure scorers with 11 points on 5-of-8 shooting, and four rebounds in 19 minutes off the bench.

Stonehill finished shooting 54.5-percent (30-for-55) from the field, including 60% (12-20) in the second half to secure the win, converting 5-of-9 three-pointers in the first half and 19-of-23 (82.6%) free-throws overall. The Skyhawks held a 32-31 rebounding edge, outscoring Dominican 12-9 on second chance points and 18-15 off turnovers.


Sophomore Samantha Hyslip added 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting. (PHOTO BY Peter Buehner)

Junior Lisa Bouffard (Wallkill, New York/Wallkill Senior) led Dominican with 19 points on 8-of-13 shooting, five rebounds and five steals. Classmate Shannon McGill (Staten Island, New York/Curtis) added 15 points on 4-of-6 shooting from beyond the arc, with three assists, while sophomore Rebecca Rabeiro (Midland Park, New Jersey/Midland Park) contributed nine points, six assists and three steals. Senior Deja Gabbidon (Teaneck, New Jersey/Teaneck) led the Chargers with seven rebounds.

Stonehill led start to finish with Martin opening the game with a three-pointer as the Skyhawks staked out an eight point lead (16-8) after a Walsh triple four minutes into the first quarter. The Skyhawks lead peaked at ten (28-18) with a Marshall jumper in the opening frame before Dominican freshman Ciera Rivera (Pomona, New York/North Rockland) capped the quarter with a three-pointer.

Stonehill stretched its lead to 14 (37-23) three and a half minutes into the second quarter after a Walsh layup before taking an 11 point advantage (49-38) into halftime. The Skyhawks extended the lead to a game-high 15 (53-38) after a layup from senior Shannon Brown (Las Vegas, Nevada/Centennial) less than two minutes into the second half. Stonehill's lead was still 14 (66-52) after a three point play from Martin with 1:18 to play in the third quarter before the Chargers scored five straight points, capped by a Rabeiro three, to draw back within nine (66-57) with a quarter to play.

Dominican cut its deficit to seven (70-63) with three free-throws by McGill with 6:14 remaining, but could get no closer as Stonehill restored a 12 point lead (77-65) following a Brown jumper with 3:12 left before going on the seal the win.

Stonehill (2-0, 0-0 NE-10) is right back in Worcester on Wednesday when it opens its Northeast-10 Conference schedule against Assumption at 5:30 p.m. The Skyhawks will open its home schedule next Saturday, November 21, when it hosts Saint Anselm College for an NE-10 matchup at 1:30 p.m. Dominican (0-2, 0-0 CACC) hosts Concordia (N.Y.) College on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.

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