Martin scored ten of her game-high 20 points in the fourth quarter to lead the Skyhawks past Le Moyne. (PHOTO BY Bob Blanchard)

Martin scores ten of game-high 20 points in fourth quarter to lead Skyhawks to tenth-straight NE10 win

EASTON, Mass. (January 17, 2018) – Stonehill College, ranked No. 23 in this week's D2SIDA Top 25 Media Poll and third in the D2SIDA East Region poll, outscored Le Moyne College 20-12 in the fourth quarter to claim a 62-56 victory in Northeast-10 Conference women's basketball action on Paula Sullivan Court at Merkert Gymnasium tonight.

Senior captains Kelly Martin (Scituate, Massachusetts/Scituate), Samantha Hyslip (Westford, Massachusetts/Westford Academy) and Courtney Walsh (Windham, New Hampshire/Central Catholic) combined to score 50 of Stonehill's 62 points on the night as the Skyhawks notched their tenth-straight NE10 win. Martin netted ten of her game-high 20 points in the fourth quarter, finishing 10-for-12 from the free-throw line, while adding three rebounds, two assists, two steals and a blocked shot. Hyslip scored 11 of her 17 points in the first half, finishing 8-for-16 from the floor, with four rebounds and two assists, while Walsh totaled 13 points and four assists, with no turnovers.

Senior Elizabeth Grip (Shrewsbury, Massachusetts/Shrewsbury) and sophomore Gabrielle Reuter (Plymouth, Massachusetts/Lawrence Academy) led a Stonehill defensive effort which limited Le Moyne to 35.6-percent shooting (21-for-59), including 3-for-12 (25%) in the fourth quarter. Grip blocked six shots and pulled down six rebounds, while Reuter chipped in six points, six boards and a career-high five blocks.

Hyslip scored 17 points for the Skyhawks tonight. (PHOTO BY Bob Blanchard)

Sophomore McKayla Roberts (North Syracuse, New York/Cicero-North Syracuse) scored all of her team-leading 15 points in the first half, connecting on 6-of-13 shots from the field, including 6-of-8 in the opening half, burying 3-of-4 three-pointers. Senior Nicole Riddick (Albany, New York/Colonie) was the only other Dolphin in double-figures with 12 points, shooting 3-for-6 from the floor, including 2-for-4 from deep, and nine rebounds.

The game featured eight ties and eight lead changes, with neither team leading by more than seven points, throughout. Le Moyne held a six-point advantage (44-38) with 2:23 remaining in the third quarter after senior Courtney Webster (Doylestown, Pennsylvania/Central Bucks East) capped a 12-2 run with a layup. Senior Corinne Poitevien (Bardonia, New York/Paramus Catholic (N.J.)) scored six points and junior Madison Purcell (Clifton Park, New York/Catholic Central) added four during the run.

Martin scored the final four points of the third quarter, giving her 14 points over the final 12 minutes of the game overall, to pull Stonehill within a pair (44-42) heading into the fourth quarter. Le Moyne clung to a one-point lead (49-48) after a Poitevein layup with 5:28 remaining, when the Skyhawks surged with six-straight points by Martin to grab a five-point lead (54-49) with 3:20 on the clock.

Riddick made two free-throws and Purcell scored a layup to pull Le Moyne within one (54-53) with two-minutes remaining, but sophomore Grace Carter (Arlington, Massachusetts/Arlington) connected with a three-pointer to extend Stonehill's lead to four (57-53) with 1:42 to go. Riddick drained one of two free-throws with 1:24 left, but the Skyhawks went 5-for-6 from the stripe in the closing 22-seconds to seal their fifth-straight win and improve to 7-0 at home this season.

Stonehill (14-2, 10-1 NE10) is right back in action here at Merkert Gym on Saturday, when it hosts the University of New Haven for an NE10 matchup at 1:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased in advance online at stonehillskyhawks.com. Le Moyne (10-7, 6-5 NE10) hosts Saint Anselm College on Saturday at 1 p.m.

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