Raymond logged her first career double-double with 11 points and a season-best 11 rebounds (PHOTO BY Bob Blanchard)

Ziliak leads four Penmen in double-figures with 16 points

MANCHESTER, N.H. (February 9, 2019) – Southern New Hampshire University, ranked No. 9 in this week's D2SIDA East Region poll, held off a second half comeback by Stonehill College, ranked No. 6 in the region, for a 67-62 victory in Northeast-10 Conference women's basketball action at SNHU Fieldhouse this afternoon.

Junior Karlee Ziliak led four Southern New Hampshire players in double-figures with a game-high 16 points, draining 4-of-6 three-pointers, to go with three rebounds and two steals. Classmate Victoria Dean added 14 points off the bench on 4-of-7 shooting, including 3-for-5 from three-point distance, three rebounds and two blocks, while senior Kylie Lorenzen recorded 11 points, nine rebounds and two assists. Sophomore Gyanna Russell contributed 13 points, while senior Brianna Camara chipped in seven points, eight boards, seven assists and two steals.

Freshman Kayla Raymond posted her first collegiate double-double and was the lone Stonehill player in double-figures with 11 points and a season-high 11 rebounds, with two assists and two steals. Sophomore Jennifer Worden followed with nine points, connecting on 3-of-6 three-pointers, with three rebounds and two assists, while junior Grace Carter chipped in eight points.

Southern New Hampshire never trailed, but had to hold off a second half comeback by Stonehill to claim the win. The Penmen led by 15 points (36-21) after a Camara jumper with 3:50 remaining in the first half. SNHU held a ten point halftime lead (40-30), but Stonehill scored the first four points of the third quarter to close back within six (40-34) after junior Kelsey Shaw capped a 13-4 Skyhawks run that wrapped around halftime with a layup less than a minute and a half in.

Worden helped spark the Skyhawks third quarter comeback effort. (PHOTO BY Bob Blanchard)

SNHU restored a 13-point lead (49-36) when Dean drained three free-throws midway through the third after she was fouled on a three-point attempt. Stonehill closed the quarter out with a 13-2 run to trail by just three (52-49) heading into the fourth. Raymond scored four points during the run, while the Skyhawks scored seven of the 13 points from the free-throw line during that stretch.

SNHU would not relinquish the lead and kept Stonehill at arm's length the rest of the way for the win. Ziliak opened the fourth with a three-pointer and then added a layup to stretch the Penmen's lead back to eight less than a minute in. Camara scored a layup to put the Penmen back up ten (59-49) a minute later. Worden drilled a three on the Skyhawks next trip and then added a second a minute and a half later to close the gap back to four (59-55) with 6:21 remaining.

Back-to-back baskets from Russell and Lorenzen answered that Stonehill push and reclaimed an eight-point cushion (63-55) with 4:50 left. Senior Maty Diabate pulled Stonehill back within six (65-59) with two minutes to go and SNHU struggled from the free-throw line down the stretch to give the Skyhawks a chance, but the visitors missed their next five shots before a late consolation triple by freshman Emily Bramanti with four-seconds left.

Stonehill (15-7, 10-6 NE10) returns to action on Tuesday, when it hosts Saint Michael's College for its Faculty & Staff Appreciation Game at 5:30 p.m. Southern N.H. (15-8, 9-7 NE10) visits nationally-ranked Bentley University on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.

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