Raymond led the Skyhawks with 24 points and nine rebounds (PHOTO BY Mary Gettens)

Penmen balanced with five in double-figures and over 49-percent shooting to secure NE10 Northeast Division title

MANCHESTER, N.H. (February 19, 2022) – East Region No. 1 Southern New Hampshire University, receiving votes in both NCAA Division II national polls, pulled away down the stretch to secure its 20^th win of the season with a 75-69 decision over Stonehill College, ranked No. 9 in the NCAA Division II East Regional rankings, in Northeast-10 Conference women's basketball action at Stan Spirou Fieldhouse this afternoon.  

Leaders

Stonehill
Kayla Raymond Senior, Forward: 24 points (10-for-22), 9 rebounds, blocked shot.
Emily Bramanti Senior, Guard: 16 points (6-for-18, 3-for-11 threes), 3 assists, 3 steals.
Isabella Santoro Senior, Guard: 10 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists. 

Southern New Hampshire
Jessica Knight Sophomore, Forward: 16 points (6-for-14) off the bench, 5 rebounds, 3 blocked shots.
Adriana Timberlake Junior, Guard: 16 points (7-for-11), 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals.
Karlee Ziliak Postgrad, Guard: 15 points (5-for-9), 3 assists, 3 steals.
Jenna Roche Senior, Guard: 13 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists. 

How it Happened

• Bramanti added 16 points, three assists and three steals. (PHOTO BY Mary Gettens)

  The game features 11 lead changes and five ties throughout with neither team leading by more than six through the first half and SNHU holding a seven-point lead in the third, but needing an 11-4 run in the closing minutes to open its largest lead (75-67) to finally seal the win and clinch its first NE10 Northeast Division title.
• SNHU grabbed a quick five-point lead (6-1) after a Timberlake layup two minutes into the game.
• Stonehill followed with six-straight to grab a lead (7-6) after a Bramanti three-pointer four minutes in that set the tone for what would be back and forth opening quarter with the teams emerging deadlocked (13-13) after Santoro capped the first with a layup at the buzzer.
• It was more of the same in the second, with Stonehill scoring the first four points, including a Raymond three-pointer, to grab a quick lead (17-13).
• SNHU responded with six straight to reclaim the lead (19-17) after a Timberlake jumper less than three minutes in.
• Stonehill took a three-point lead (22-19) a minute later, during a stretch that saw Raymond score seven-straight Skyhawk points, but SNHU used an 8-0 run to grab a five-point lead (29-24) after two free-throws by senior Danielle Sirois with 3:35 left in the half.
• The Penmen stretched their lead to six (35-29) after a Knight layup with a minute to go, before taking a four-point cushion (35-31) into halftime.
• SNHU worked its lead to seven (49-42) after a Ziliak layup at the midway point of the third quarter, but Stonehill closed with a 10-3 run, including four points by sophomore Jada Thornton, to knot the score (52-52) heading into the final ten minutes.
• Ziliak opened the fourth with a three-point play, but Stonehill scored the next five points to regain the lead (57-55) when Santoro followed a Bramanti three-point play with a layup two minutes into the fourth.
• SNHU reclaimed a three-point lead (62-59) after two Timberlake free-throws midway through the fourth.
• The teams traded baskets before Sirois sparked a clinching 8-2 spurt that gave the Penmen a seven-point lead (72-65) after two Ziliak free-throws with 43-seconds to play. SNHU converted all four free-throws from there to seal the win around closing layups from Bramanti and Raymond.

Noteworthy

• Raymond led Stonehill in scoring in her sixth-straight game played and tenth time this season overall, posting her sixth 20-point game of the season (?? Career) and scoring in double digits for the 11^th-straight game and 16^th time this season overall (54^th career).
• Bramanti scored in double figures for the 14^th time this season (27 career).
• Santoro posted her 11^th double-figure scoring game of the season (22^nd career).
• Despite the setback, Stonehill is still able to move up to the No. 2-seed for the upcoming NE10 Tournament heading into tomorrow's regular season finale, needing a win over Southern Connecticut State University tomorrow at Merkert Gym and Bentley University loss to Saint Anselm College at home in their regular season capper on Tuesday.
• As of now, Stonehill would be the No. 3 seed in the NE10's Northeast Division and would host Southwest No. 6 The College of Saint Rose in an NE10 Tournament first round clash on Friday, February 25.
• Today's game is the third of four in the final week of the regular season for Stonehill, which has seen it go 2-1 so far this week, concluding tomorrow afternoon against Southern Connecticut. The week wraps up a closing stretch that has seen the Skyhawks play nine games over the final three weeks of the season.

Up Next

Stonehill (12-8, 11-7 NE10) closes out the regular season tomorrow afternoon when it hosts Southern Connecticut State for Senior Day at Merkert Gymnasium at 4 p.m. SNHU (20-5, 14-4 NE10) visits Saint Michael's College for its regular season finale on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.

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