Martin scored a season-high 28 points, canning 6-of-10 thtree-pointers, to lead the Skyhawks to their seventh-straight win. (PHOTO BY SportPix)

Martin finishes with season-high 28 points on 6-of-10 shooting from three

MANCHESTER, N.H. (December 9, 2017) – Stonehill College, receiving votes in this week's Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Division II poll and ranked sixth in the D2SIDA East Region poll, extended its win streak to seven games as it closed out the first third of its Northeast-10 Conference schedule with a 65-53 triumph over Southern New Hampshire University, ranked tenth in the region, in NE10 women's basketball action at SNHU Fieldhouse today.

Senior guard Kelly Martin (Scituate, Massachusetts/Scituate) surpassed 20 points for the second-straight game and third time this season overall, leading Stonehill with a season-high 28 points on 10-of-15 shooting from the floor, including 6-for-10 from three-point distance, with three rebounds and two assists. Senior Samantha Hyslip (Westford, Massachusetts/Westford Academy) fell just a rebound shy of her fifth double-double of the season with 14 points, nine rebounds and three assists, while classmate Elizabeth Grip (Shrewsbury, Massachusetts/Shrewsbury) also pulled down a career-high matching nine boards, to go with five blocked shots and three assists. Sophomore Grace Carter (Arlington, Massachusetts/Arlington) rounded out the Skyhawks double-figure scorers with 11 points off the bench, two rebounds, two assists and three steals.

Junior Kylie Lorenzen (Holliston, Massachusetts/Holliston) was the lone Southern New Hampshire player in double-figures, posting a double-double effort of 17 points and a game-high 15 rebounds with three steals. Senior Catherine Stinson (Lynn, Massachusetts/Lynn English) contributed eight points and three rebounds, while junior Aaliyah Paxton (Hainseport, New Jersey/Rancocas Valley) chipped in eight points, four steals and two assists.

Hyslip added 14 points, nine rebounds and three assists for the Skyhawks. (PHOTO BY SportsPix)

Stonehill limited an SNHU team that knocked off No. 3/4 Bentley University on Wednesday night to just 28.6-percent shooting from the floor, including 4-for-20 (20%) from beyond the arc.

Stonehill overcame an early eight-point deficit (17-9) with three minutes remaining in the opening quarter to grab a two-point lead (19-17) heading into the second after a Hyslip jumper in the final seconds. Martin scored five points during the ten-point run, including a three-pointer that knotted the score with 1:39 remaining in the first. The Skyhawks extended the run to 14-0 after a pair of baskets from Martin in the opening 2:19 of the second quarter.

SNHU was within two (26-24) after a layup from senior Jennifer Shelp (Apalachin, New York/Vestal) with 3:43 to play in the half, but Stonehill outscored the hosts 9-2 over the remainder of the frame to take a nine-point lead (35-26) into halftime, sparked by a three-point play by Carter.

Stonehill opened the second half with another 9-2 spurt to push its lead into double-digits (44-28) after a Hyslip free-throw three and a half minutes in, with Martin burying a pair of triples during the stretch as well. SNHU drew within ten (46-36) with a three-pointer from freshman Gyanna Russell (East Hampton, Connecticut/East Hampton) midway through the third quarter, but the Skyhawks reeled off a 12-3 run over the next three minutes to open a 19 point cushion (58-39) following a Carter layup with 1:10 remaining, while also draining a three during the run.

Stonehill stretched its lead to 21 points (63-42) after a layup from senior Courtney Walsh (Windham, New Hampshire/Central Catholic) two minutes into the fourth and the Skyhawks were not seriously threatened the rest of the way.  

Stonehill (7-1, 6-1 NE10) is right back in action on the road on Monday night, when it travels to Western New York to visit Roberts Wesleyan College for a non-conference battle at 6 p.m. The Skyhawks do not return to Merkert Gym until it rings in the New Year with a return matchup with Roberts Wesleyan on New Year's Day at 1 p.m. Southern N.H. (6-4, 5-2 NE10) travels to Concordia (N.Y.) College on Wednesday at 4 p.m.

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