Hyslip notched her fifth double-double of the season to lead the Skyhawks to their eighth-straight win. (PHOTO BY Barry Gutradt) |
Hyslip's 12th career double-double leads Skyhawks to eighth straight win
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (December 11, 2017) – Stonehill College, receiving votes in the most recent Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Division II poll and ranked fifth in this week's D2SIDA East Region poll, shot 56.7-percent in the second half to pull away down the stretch for a 75-63 victory over Roberts Wesleyan College in non-conference women's basketball action at Voller Athletic Center tonight.
Senior forward Samantha Hyslip (Westford, Massachusetts/Westford Academy) led Stonehill to its eighth-straight win with her fifth double-double of the season (12th career), recording game-high totals of 22 points and 11 rebounds. She made 9-of-15 shots from the floor on the way to her season-high point total, while matching her season-best for rebounds, and adding a steal. Hyslip has now scored 925 points in 93 career games played.
Sophomore Kelsey Shaw (Bar Harbor, Maine/Mount Desert Island) contributed a season-high 14 points, three rebounds, three assists and three steals, while senior Courtney Walsh (Windham, New Hampshire/Central Catholic) added 13 points, connecting on 3-of-6 three-pointers, with three assists. Sophomore Gabrielle Reuter (Plymouth, Massachusetts/Lawrence Academy) matched her career-high with 12 points on 6-of-11 shooting off the bench, with seven boards, two assists, a blocked shot and a steal, while senior Kelly Martin (Scituate, Massachusetts/Scituate) chipped in with nine rebounds, eight assists and two steals.
Shaw scored a season-high 14 points to go with three rebounds, three assists and three steals (PHOTO BY Peter Buehner) |
Sophomore Emily Miller (Buffalo, New York/Christian Central Academy) led Roberts Wesleyan with a double-double of 17 points on 6-of-11 shooting, with ten rebounds and three assists. Classmate Taya Andrews (Fort Wayne, Indiana/Bishop Dwenger) was the only other Redhawk in double-figures with 11 points, three rebounds and two assists, while junior Taylor Bynoe (Williamstown, New Jersey/Williamstown) chipped in nine points, eight boards and two steals.
Stonehill overcame deficits in each of the first three quarters to hold the lead after each stanza. The Skyhawks trailed by five in the first quarter before taking a three-point lead into the second, and then fell behind by four in the second frame before grabbing a one-point edge at halftime (34-33) following a steal and layup at the buzzer by Shaw.
Roberts Wesleyan regained the lead twice in the opening minute of the third quarter, but Stonehill used a 10-2 run over the next three minutes to claim a seven point lead (46-39) after a Shaw layup with 6:20 remaining. Walsh sparked the run with a three-pointer as five different players scored during that stretch. Andrews drained a three-pointer to pull Roberts Wesleyan back within two (48-46) just a minute later, but the Skyhawks scored the next eight points to open a ten point margin (56-46) with 2:52 to play in the third after back-to-back baskets from Hyslip.
Stonehill took a nine point lead (59-50) into the final quarter, restoring its ten point cushion (62-52) with a Martin three-pointer three minutes in. Layups from Andrews and Bynoe drew Roberts Wesleyan back within six (62-56) with 6:27 still to play, but the Skyhawks would not allow the hosts any closer, stretching their lead to 11 (67-56) with 3:41 remaining after a Walsh triple and layup from Reuter. Stonehill expanded its lead to 14 (74-60) with a Shaw free-throw in the final minute, before settling for the final spread.
Stonehill shot just 32.4-percent (12-for-37) in the opening half, including 2-for-9 (22.2%) from beyond the arc, but improved to 56.7% (17-30) in the second to clinch the win.
Stonehill (8-1, 6-1 NE10) returns to action on Sunday, when it visits Pace University for a non-conference encounter at 3 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. RWC (5-4, 1-1 ECC) visits the University of Bridgeport for an ECC battle on Friday at 5 p.m.
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