Hyslip led a balanced Skyhawks effort with 13 points, adding four rebounds and two assists. (PHOTO BY Peter Buehner)

Hyslip leads balanced Skyhawks offense with 13 points

WEST HAVEN, Conn. (January 10, 2017) – Stonehill College limited the University of New Haven to less than 30-percent shooting from the floor en route to a 58-49 triumph in Northeast-10 Conference women's basketball action at Charger Gymnasium this afternoon.

Junior forward Samantha Hyslip (Westford, Massachusetts/Westford Academy) led a balanced Stonehill offensive effort with 13 points on 5-of-6 shooting from the floor and converting all three free-throws, with four rebounds and two assists. Junior Courtney Walsh (Windham, New Hampshire/Central Catholic) scored all 12 of her points in the second half, connecting on 4-of-11 three-pointers overall, including 4-for-8 over the final 20 minutes, with a season-high matching five rebounds, an assist and steal, while classmate Elizabeth Grip (Shrewsbury, Massachusetts/Shrewsbury) added ten points, six boards and a career-high five blocked shots.

Freshman Kelsey Shaw (Bar Harbor, Maine/Mount Desert Island) rounded out Stonehill's double-figure scorers with 11 points (nine first half) on 5-of-6 shooting, draining her lone three-point attempt, with a season-best seven rebounds, three assists and a steal. Sophomore Tayler Wornum (Randolph, Massachusetts/Archbishop Williams) pulled down a team-high eight boards off the bench for the Skyhawks.

Sophomore Alexandria Kerr (Montclair, New Jersey/Montclair) scored 18 of her game-high 20 points in the second half to lead New Haven, which was handed its ninth loss over the last ten games. She finished shooting 7-for-23 from the field, including 2-for-5 from beyond the arc, while draining all four free-throws, with a game-high matching eight rebounds and two steals. Classmate Katia Oge (New City, New York/Immaculate Heart Academy) was the only other Charger in double-figures with 13 points, eight rebounds, two blocked shots and two steals.

Stonehill, winners of back to back games for the first time since early December, finished shooting 41.4-percent from the field, including 6-for-13 (46.2%) from three-point distance, converting 4-of-6 free-throws (66.7%) on the afternoon. New Haven was limited to 29% (18-62) shooting overall, including 5-for-26 (19.2%) in the opening half as the Skyhawks built a seven point halftime lead (26-19), making just 2-of-11 three-pointers (18.2%) and converting 11-of-15 free-throws (73.3%).

Walsh scored all 12 of her points in the second half, draining 4-of-8 three-pointers in the frame. (PHOTO BY Peter Buehner)

New Haven took advantage of 19 Stonehill turnovers to post an 18-6 scoring advantage in points off, while outscoring the Skyhawks 13-8 in second chance points despite being edged 41-39 on the glass.

Stonehill led virtually start to finish, save for a pair of one point New Haven leads in the first quarter. Shaw scored the final four points of the opening frame to give the Skyhawks a five point lead (17-12) after the first ten minutes. Stonehill extended its lead to eight (21-13) 2:13 into the second quarter after baskets from Shaw and Wornum.

New Haven pulled back within a possession (21-18) after a jumper by freshman Kim Talley (Quakertown, Pennsylvania/Lansdale Catholic) with 4:39 to play in the half, but Stonehill scored five of the last six points of the quarter, including three from sophomore Maty Diabate (Holden, Massachusetts/Wachusett Regional), to carry a seven point lead (26-19) into the intermission.

Walsh heated up in the second half and sandwiched a Grip layup with her first two three-pointers of the afternoon to push the Stonehill lead into double-digits for the first time (34-21) 2:18 into the third quarter. The Skyhawks lead peaked at 15 (38-23) with a Shaw layup with 3:24 remaining in the frame before carrying a 13 point advantage (42-29) into the fourth.

New Haven pulled within seven (52-45) with 2:30 to play after six straight points from Kerr, but would get no closer as Hyslip and Wornum answered with back to back baskets to restore Stonehill's double-figure lead (56-45) with 1:30 left to seal the win.

Stonehill (7-7, 6-4 NE10) is back in action on Saturday when it visits Pace University at 1:30 p.m. The Skyhawks return to Merkert Gym next Wednesday, January 18, to host nationally-ranked Adelphi University for an NE10 battle at 5:30 p.m. New Haven (2-12, 1-8 NE10) hosts Assumption College on Saturday at 3:30 p.m.

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