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Grip led the Skyhawks with 12 points, adding five rebounds. (PHOTO BY Mike Tureski/SportsPix) |
Balfour and Clark lead Panthers to 12th straight win
EASTON, Mass. (January 18, 2017) – Adelphi University, ranked 11th in this week's D2SIDA Top 25 poll and 18th in the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Division II poll, held Stonehill College under 30-percent shooting from the field on its way to a 12th straight win after a 62-38 decision in Northeast-10 Conference women's basketball action on Paula Sullivan Court at Merkert Gymnasium tonight.
Seniors Calli Balfour (Hopewell Junction, New York/John Jay) and Sierra Clark (Hughesville, Maryland/Archbishop Spalding) combined to lead three in double figures for Adelphi. Balfour notched a double-double with 18 points and a game-high 13 rebounds with five steals, shooting 8-for-19 from the field, while Clark scored 12 of her 19 points in the second half on 9-of-17 shooting overall, with nine rebounds, five blocked shots and two assists. Junior Simone Hobdy (Saint Albans, New York/The Mary Louis Academy) rounded out the Panthers double-figure scorers with ten points, shooting 4-for-7 from the floor, with two boards, three assists and three steals.
Junior Elizabeth Grip (Shrewsbury, Massachusetts/Shrewsbury) was the lone Stonehill player in double figures with 12 points on 4-of-9 shooting, converting all four free-throw attempts, with five rebounds. Sophomore Maty Diabate (Holden, Massachusetts/Wachusett Regional) added eight points on 4-of-9 shooting off the bench and five boards, while freshman Kelsey Shaw (Bar Harbor, Maine/Mount Desert Island) registered six points and six rebounds. Junior Kate Ross (Fall River, Massachusetts/The Lincoln School) pulled down a team-high seven rebounds for the Skyhawks.
Shaw totaled six points and six rebounds for the Skyhawks. (PHOTO BY Mike Tureski/SportsPix) |
Adelphi finished shooting 41.3-percent from the field (26-for-63), including 46.7% (14-30) in the second half to pull away, connecting on 5-of-18 three-pointers (27.8%). The Panthers held a 44-38 rebounding edge, resulting in a 15-10 advantage for second chance points, making the most of 17 Stonehill turnovers (while committing 14) to outscore the Skyhawks 24-6 in points off turnovers. Stonehill was limited to 27.1% shooting (16-for-59), including 21.4% (6-for-28) in the first half, as the Skyhawks were held to their lowest point total since a 59-38 loss at Southern Connecticut State University on January 21, 2012.
Stonehill scored the first four points of the game, but Adelphi reeled off a 14-2 run to claim an eight-point advantage (14-6) with 3:37 remaining in the first quarter. The Skyhawks closed within four (14-10) after the opening frame, but were outscored 15-4 in the second stanza as the Panthers claimed a 15-point halftime lead (29-14).
Shaw opened the second half with a three-pointer and Stonehill started the third quarter strong, but Adelphi had the answer, claiming a 19-point cushion (40-21) midway through the frame after back to back baskets from Clark. The Panthers extended their lead to 26 (49-23) when Balfour capped a run of nine straight points with a layup with two minutes to play in the third. Adelphi carried a 20-point lead into the final frame and Stonehill wouldn't get any closer over the final ten minutes.
Stonehill (7-9, 6-6 NE10) is back on the road on Saturday when it visits American International College, ranked ninth in this week's D2SIDA East Region poll, for an NE10 matchup at 1:30 p.m. The Skyhawks return home next Saturday, January 28, to host The College of Saint Rose for their Alumnae Game at 1:30 p.m. Adelphi (16-2, 11-0 NE10) hosts Merrimack College on Saturday at 1:30 p.m.
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