Martin ranks among NE10 leaders for scoring, rebounding and assists. (PHOTO BY Bob Blanchard) |
Skyhawks ranked in Coaches' national poll for first time since Nov. 2015
WBCA Division II Poll (Feb. 6)
D2SIDA Media Regional & National Polls
EASTON, Mass. (February 6, 2018) – Stonehill College has returned to the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Division II Top 25 for the first time since November 2015 with its appearance at No. 22 in this week's poll released today.
Stonehill, which appeared among teams receiving votes regularly this season, returns to the WBCA Top 25 for the first time since November 17, 2015, when it was ranked No. 9. The Skyhawks also moved up eight spots to No. 10 in this week's D2SIDA Top 25 media poll after being ranked each of the last three weeks, moving up to No. 1 in the D2SIDA East Region poll. It marks the 156th week Stonehill has been ranked in the WBCA poll in program history, having peaked at No. 2 on December 27, 1995.
Stonehill (19-2, 15-1 NE10) are winners of ten-straight after posting a pair of key wins last week over previously No. 3/3 Bentley University (77-66) on Wednesday and Southern New Hampshire University (49-48), ranked ninth in last week's East Region poll, to take over sole possession of first place in the Northeast-10 Conference's Northeast Division with five games to play. The Skyhawks have won 15-straight NE10 games dating back to a season-opening setback to Bentley (84-73), with their only other loss this season a 71-56 decision at East Region #2 University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, ranked 13th nationally by D2SIDA and 18th by the WBCA.
Stonehill, winners of all 11 games at Merkert Gymnasium this season, is led by the senior trio of Kelly Martin (Scituate, Massachusetts/Scituate), Samantha Hyslip (Westford, Massachusetts/Westford Academy) and Courtney Walsh (Windham, New Hampshire/Central Catholic). Martin, a two-time All-NE10 selection as a sophomore (third team) and junior (second team), has returned for the Skyhawks after missing the 2016-17 season to injury to average 15.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game, while Hyslip, an All-NE10 second team selection last season, contributes 13.4 points on 49.1-percent shooting, and nine rebounds per contest. Walsh, named to the All-NE10 third team last year, rounds out the Skyhawks averaging in double-figures with 10.8 points, connecting on 34.8% (49-for-141) of her three-pointers, with 3.0 assists per game.
Classmate Elizabeth Grip (Shrewsbury, Massachusetts/Shrewsbury) leads the NE10 with her school-record 79 blocked shots this season, ranking third nationally in Division II with 3.8 blocks per game. Sophomores Grace Carter (Arlington, Massachusetts/Arlington) and Gabrielle Reuter (Plymouth, Massachusetts/Lawrence Academy) have also added valuable support for head coach Trisha Brown, in her 17th season at the helm.
Stonehill is back in action tonight for an NE10 matchup at Saint Michael's College at 5:30 p.m. The Skyhawks are back on the road on Saturday, visiting Franklin Pierce University at 1:30 p.m., before returning home next Wednesday, February 14, to host Merrimack College at 5:30 p.m. Tickets for Stonehill home games can be purchased online in advance at stonehillskyhawks.com.
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