Hyslip posted her third-straight double-double dating back to last season. (PHOTO BY Barry Gutradt)

Hyslip and Martin double-doubles lead Skyhawks to win in home opener

EASTON, Mass. (November 18, 2017) – Stonehill College got a pair of double-double performances and a strong defensive effort in posting a 76-43 triumph over Saint Michael's College in Northeast-10 Conference women's basketball action on Paula Sullivan Court at Merkert Gymnasium this afternoon.

Seniors Samantha Hyslip (Westford, Massachusetts/Westford Academy) and Kelly Martin (Scituate, Massachusetts/Scituate) each recorded double-doubles to lead Stonehill to its first win of the year. Hyslip totaled a game-high 18 points on 7-of-11 shooting, while converting all four free-throws, to go with 11 rebounds (six offensive) for her third straight double-double dating back to last season and second in as many games so far this year (ninth career). Martin added 15 points on 6-of-12 shooting, including 3-for-7 from three-point range, with a career-high 11 boards for her third career double-double, adding five assists and three steals.

Senior Elizabeth Grip (Shrewsbury, Massachusetts/Shrewsbury) led a Stonehill defensive effort which limited Saint Michael's to 28.3-percent shooting (17-for-60) with a career-high eight blocked shots, adding nine points and six rebounds. The eight blocks are the most by a Skyhawk dating back to at least 2000. Classmate Courtney Walsh (Windham, New Hampshire/Central Catholic) contributed eight points and five assists, while sophomore Grace Carter (Arlington, Massachusetts/Arlington) chipped in eight points.

Martin notched her third career double-double, collecting a career-high 11 rebounds. (PHOTO BY Peter Buehner)

Senior Leah Spencer (Brockton, Massachusetts/Archbishop Williams) and sophomore Brianna Purcell (Bedford, New Hampshire/Bedford) each netted a team-high nine points for Saint Michael's. Spencer also tallied seven rebounds and two assists, while Purcell grabbed three steals. Junior Samantha Delaney (Smithtown, New York/Smithtown East) chipped in with eight points and a team-high nine rebounds.

Stonehill staked out a quick seven-point lead (11-4) after a Martin three-pointer five minutes into the game, and held an 11-point cushion (17-6) with a three-point play by Grip with three-minutes remaining in the opening quarter. The Skyhawks settled for a five-point edge (17-12) after a quarter of play, led by eight points from Hyslip, with the Purple Knights closing within two twice over the first three minutes of the second.

Saint Michael's was still within three (25-22) following a Spencer triple four minutes into the second quarter, when Stonehill scored ten straight points, keyed by back to back Martin threes, to open a 13-point cushion (35-22) with 2:15 left in the half. The Skyhawks carried that 13-point lead into halftime and then opened the second half with an 11-2 run to open a 22-point margin (48-26) three minutes into the third quarter after consecutive threes by Carter and Walsh.

Stonehill wouldn't let Saint Michael's within 19 points the rest of the way, closing the game out with a 14-4 run, resulting in the final 33-point margin the Skyhawks largest lead of the game.

Stonehill (1-1, 1-1 NE10) is back in action on Tuesday, when it continues its three-game home stand by hosting Saint Anselm College for an NE10 matchup at 5:30 p.m. Saint Michael's (2-2, 0-2 NE10) visits Franklin Pierce University on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.

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