Hyslip totaled 16 points, six rebounds and three blocked shots tonight. (PHOTO BY Mike Tureski/SportsPix)

Ryan leads four Penmen in double-figures as Skyhawks win streak halted

EASTON, Mass. (December 7, 2016) – Southern New Hampshire University ended Stonehill College's three game upswing with a 73-61 victory in Northeast-10 Conference women's basketball action on Paula Sullivan Court at Merkert Gymnasium tonight.

Senior Sara Ryan (Quincy, Massachusetts/Archbishop Williams) led four Southern New Hampshire players in double-figures with a game-high 19 points on 7-of-10 shooting from the field, converting all four free-throws and her lone three-point attempt, to go with six rebounds, two assists and a steal. Sophomore Kylie Lorenzen (Holliston, Massachusetts/Holliston) added 15 points, eight rebounds and two steals, while junior Catherine Stinson (Lynn, Massachusetts/Lynn) recorded 14 points, connecting on 4-of-7 three-pointers, with three boards and two assists. Junior Olivia Conrad (Hanover, Massachusetts/Archbishop Williams) rounded out the Penmen in double-figures with 11 points and five rebounds, while sophomore Brianna Camara (Fall River, Massachusetts/Durfee) chipped in with six points, eight rebounds and seven assists.

Juniors Samantha Hyslip (Westford, Massachusetts/Westford Academy) and Courtney Walsh (Windham, New Hampshire/Central Catholic) each netted 16 points to lead Stonehill. Hyslip made 8-of-13 shots to go with six rebounds, two assists and three blocked shots, while Walsh connected on 7-of-15 shots and grabbed two boards and two steals. Freshman Kelsey Shaw (Bar Harbor, Maine/Mount Desert Island) contributed a season-high matching nine points off the bench on 3-of-5 shooting, with four assists, three rebounds and a steal, while sophomore Maty Diabate (Holden, Massachusetts/Wachusett Regional) pulled down eight boards for the Skyhawks.

SNHU shot 45.9-percent from the field (28-for-61), including 9-for-19 (47.4%) from three-point range. The Penmen hit 5-of-6 triples (83.3%) in the first quarter and connected at 47.4% (9-19) from the floor in the third quarter overall, including 3-for-5 (60%) from deep, to turn a 36-34 halftime lead into a 13-point advantage (57-44) after three quarters of play. Stonehill finished shooting 40.6% (26-64) from the field overall, but just 4-for-16 (25%) in the pivotal third quarter that saw the Penmen build a double-digit lead. The Skyhawks were 3-for-9 (33.3%) from three-point distance and 6-of-9 (66.7%) at the free-throw line.

Walsh netted 16 points on 7-of-15 shooting. (PHOTO BY Mike Tureski/SportsPix)

Southern New Hampshire led for over 32-minutes in the contest and never trailed after the opening quarter of play, emerging from a first quarter in which the two teams combined to bury 7-of-8 three-pointers with a three-point advantage (21-18), by connecting on 5-of-6 triples. Stonehill led by four twice over the opening five minutes of the game, including an 11-7 edge after a Walsh three with 5:19 remaining.

SNHU turned the lead around to a four-point advantage of its own (17-13) after a Stinson three with 2:11 left in the frame, but Stonehill followed with five straight on a Shaw triple and Nicole Rojas (Cromwell, Connecticut/Cromwell) jumper to regain the lead (18-17) with 1:11 on the clock, but the Penmen scored the final four points of the frame to grab their three-point lead (21-18), capped by a Molly Terry (Shrewsbury, Massachusetts/Notre Dame Academy) three with 36-seconds left.

SNHU quickly opened a seven-point cushion (25-18) with baskets from Lorenzen and Conrad 1:16 in. Walsh pulled Stonehill back within two (27-25) with a three-pointer with 6:03 left in the half, but Ryan answered with a three at the other end two minutes later to restore a five-point lead (30-25). The Skyhawks pulled even (34-34) on a Rojas jumper with 39-seconds to go in the half, but Ryan answered with a layup with 15-seconds to go that sent the Penmen into halftime with the lead (36-34).

Lorenzen opened the second half with a three-pointer and SNHU opened an eight-point gap (44-36) after a Stinson three after two minutes. The Penmen kept Stonehill at arm's length and scored the final five points of the quarter to take a 13-point lead into the final frame (57-44). Stonehill drew within nine twice within the first four minutes of the fourth quarter, but could get no closer as SNHU claimed a 13-point lead (63-50) after two Ryan free-throws with 5:29 to play and the Skyhawks wouldn't get the lead under ten points the rest of the way.

Stonehill (5-2, 4-2 NE10) is right back in action here at Merkert Gym on Saturday as it hosts No. 14 Bentley University for its Purple & White Game at 1:30 p.m. Southern N.H. (4-5, 2-3 NE10) hosts Saint Michael's College on Saturday at 1:30 p.m.

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