Diabate scored a season-high 15 points to help lead the Skyhawks. (PHOTO BY Barry Gutradt) |
Diabate and Worden lead Skyhawks to fifth straight win
RINDGE, N.H. (December 1, 2018) – Stonehill College, ranked 23rd in this week's Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Division II poll, scored 28-straight points during a stretch between the first and second quarters and didn't look back in posting a 71-46 victory over Franklin Pierce University in Northeast-10 Conference women's basketball action inside the Franklin Pierce Fieldhouse this afternoon.
Senior forward Maty Diabate scored a season-high 15 points on 7-of-8 shooting from the floor, to go with six rebounds and three assists, while sophomore Jennifer Worden registered a career-best 13 points on 5-of-8 shooting, including 2-for-4 from three-point range, contributing four rebounds and two assists without a turnover. Freshman Isabella Santoro added a season-high nine points and six boards, with two assists off the bench, with classmate Emily Bramanti chipping in nine points, three assists and two rebounds.
Freshman Izzy Lipinski was the lone Franklin Pierce player in double-figures with ten points, aided by a 4-of-4 effort at the free-throw line, and five rebounds. Classmate Lisa Sulejmani added eight points on 4-of-6 shooting, while sophomore Claudia Tucci chipped in seven points and four boards off the bench.
Worden added a career-best 13 points for the Skyhawks. (PHOTO BY Barry Gutradt) |
Stonehill scored the last 17 points of the first quarter, stretching the run to 28-0 three minutes into the second quarter on its way to a 42-16 halftime lead and didn't look back in posting its fifth-straight win, and 11th-straight win in an opposing gym dating back to last year. The Skyhawks made 10-of-17 (58.8%) shots in the opening quarter, on their way to a 57.6% (19-33) shooting effort in the first half overall, while limiting Franklin Pierce to 5-of-25 (20%) shooting over the opening half.
Stonehill led by one (6-5) less than four minutes into the game, when junior Gabrielle Reuter scored back to back baskets and then Bramanti connected with a three-pointer to spark the 17-0 run to end the opening ten minutes. Bramanti scored eight of her nine points during the run, burying a pair of threes.
Stonehill scored the first 11 points of the second quarter, the first five from Worden, to extend the run to 28-0 and a 29-point lead (34-5) three minutes in, following back to back layups from junior Morgan O'Brien. Franklin Pierce ended its scoring drought with two free-throws from Lipinski, but the Ravens went without a field goal for nearly 11 minutes before sophomore Sophia Holmes hit a three with 5:25 to play in the half after a Diabate layup had pushed the Skyhawks lead to 31 (38-7).
Stonehill settled for a 26-point halftime lead (42-16) and its lead would not dip below that until late in the third quarter and the Skyhawks didn't let Franklin Pierce inside 20 points the rest of the way. Stonehill's lead grew to as much as 33 in the third quarter on two occasions, following a Diabate jumper (51-18) with 7:31 to play, and after a layup from senior Tayler Wornum with 6:12 left.
Stonehill (7-1, 4-1 NE10) returns to Merkert Gym on Wednesday to open a five game home stand that will close out 2018 against Assumption College at 5:30 p.m. Franklin Pierce (1-6, 0-4 NE10) visits Merrimack College on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.
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