Walsh netted 19 points, draining five three-pointers to move into the top ten for single-season and career threes. (PHOTO BY Mike Tureski/SportsPix)

Hyslip and Walsh combine for 39 points to lead Skyhawks

EASTON, Mass. (February 4, 2017) – Stonehill College held off Franklin Pierce University down the stretch to claim a 62-57 victory in Northeast-10 Conference women's basketball action as part of Alumni Weekend at the College on Paula Sullivan Court at Merkert Gymnasium this afternoon.

Juniors Samantha Hyslip (Westford, Massachusetts/Westford Academy) and Courtney Walsh (Windham, New Hampshire/Central Catholic) led the way for Stonehill in its third win over the last four games as they combined for 39 points. Hyslip totaled 20 points on 7-of-9 shooting, converting all six free-throw attempts to go with six rebounds and a steal. Walsh added 19 points on 5-of-9 shooting from three-point distance, draining all four free throws, with four assists, two boards and a blocked shot. Her five three-pointers give her an NE10 leading 68 for the season to crack the program's single-season top ten list, while also moving into the program's career top ten with 124 three-pointers in 78 career games. Walsh is now tied for seventh on the program's single-season list and she moved past Emily Rousseau '11 (120 3FG) into tenth for career three-pointers.

Stonehill also got solid contributions from sophomore Maty Diabate (Holden, Massachusetts/Wachusett Regional) with nine points, six rebounds, two assists, two blocked shots and two steals, while junior Kate Ross (Fall River, Massachusetts/The Lincoln School) grabbed six boards.

Senior Mikayla Deguire (Watervilet, New York/Watervilet) posted a double-double to lead Franklin Pierce with game-high totals of 21 points and 12 rebounds, including ten offensive, shooting 9-for-16 from the field. Sophomore Sarah Middleton (Barrington, Rhode Island/Barrington) added 19 points on 8-of-13 shooting, including 1-for-2 from beyond the arc, and four rebounds. Junior Jemma Thacker (Nairne, Australia) chipped in with eight points, three boards, two assists and two steals.

Hyslip scored a team-high 20 points and grabbed six rebounds today. (PHOTO BY Mike Tureski/SportsPix)

Stonehill shot 45.8-percent from the field (22-for-48), including 6-for-11 (54.5%) from beyond the arc, converting 12-of-16 free throws (75%). The Skyhawks held a 33-29 rebounding edge, but Franklin Pierce posted an 11-7 edge in second chance points. The Ravens also took advantage of the Skyhawks 19 turnovers to outscore the hosts 27-11 in points off. Franklin Pierce shot 42.1-percent from the field (24-for-57), including 3-for-16 (18.8%) from beyond the arc, while converting 6-of-11 free throws (54.5%).

Stonehill led nearly start to finish, but never by more than seven points all afternoon. The teams were tied after three quarters (44-44) and Deguire scored a layup to open the fourth quarter to give Franklin Pierce its largest lead of the game (46-44). The Skyhawks answered with a Hyslip jumper to knot the score and then Walsh and freshman Kelsey Shaw (Bar Harbor, Maine/Mount Desert Island) buried back-to-back three-pointers to open a six-point lead (52-46) with 7:45 to play.

Franklin Pierce forged the fifth tie of the contest (52-52) with six straight from Dequire, capped by two free throws with 4:53 remaining. Stonehill scored six straight points from the free-throw line, including four by Walsh, to regain its six-point lead (58-52) with 2:44 to go. Senior Dana Campbell (Merrick, New York/St. Dominic) connected from beyond the arc and then Deguire scored a jumper to pull the Ravens within a point (58-57) with 1:08 on the clock.

Hyslip answered with a layup out of a Stonehill timeout and then after two missed three-pointers by Franklin Pierce, she drained two free throws with eight seconds remaining to seal the win.

Stonehill (10-10, 9-7 NE10) returns to action on Tuesday, when it visits Merrimack College for a key NE10 matchup at 5:30 p.m. The Skyhawks next home game is Wednesday, February 15, when they host Saint Anselm College at 5:30 p.m. Franklin Pierce (2-19, 0-16 NE10) hosts Saint Michael's College on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.

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