Wood and Pryor help Pioneers flip ten-point halftime deficit
Bramanti posted her third 20-point game of the season to lead the Skyhawks (PHOTO BY Ryan Feeney) |
EASTON, Mass. (January 8, 2023) – Sacred Heart University flipped a ten-point halftime deficit by shooting over 57-percent in the second to pick up a 70-56 victory over Stonehill College in a Northeast Conference women's basketball tale of two halves on Paula Sullivan Court at Merkert Gymnasium this afternoon.
Freshmen Ny'Ceara Pryor and Amelia Wood paced Sacred Heart by combining for 23 of the Pioneers' 44 second-half points and lead the comeback. Pryor finished with a game-high 22 points on 7-of-11 shooting, while converting 8-of-11 free-throws, to go with eight rebounds, seven assists, three steals and two blocked shots. Wood scored all 12 of her points in the second half, making all four of her shots, including a pair of three-pointers, in the contest and added seven rebounds.
Fifth-year Emily Bramanti reached the 20-point mark for the third time this season, scoring 12 of her 20 in the second half, adding two rebounds, an assist and a steal. Classmate Sophie Glidden was the only other Skyhawk in double figures with 13 points, seven rebounds, two assists, a steal and blocked shot. Freshman Melissa Whitmore chipped in by matching her season-bests of eight points and four rebounds, while senior Mia Kelly grabbed eight boards.
Stonehill used an 8-2 run late in the first quarter to grab an 11-point lead (16-5) after a drive in the paint from postgrad Maddie Loder with a minute left. The Skyhawks carried a nine-point cushion (16-7) into the second quarter, but Sacred Heart pulled within four (18-14) with an Olivia Tucker three less than two minutes in. Stonehill answered that with a 13-5 run to open a game-high 12-point advantage (31-19) after a three-point play from Glidden with four minutes remaining in the half.
Glidden scored in double-figures for the seventh time this season. finishing with 13 points and seven rebounds (PHOTO BY Ryan Feeney) |
Bramanti sent Stonehill into halftime with a ten-point lead (36-26) with a three-pointer with a minute to play. Sacred Heart opened the second half with three-pointers from junior Ciara Brannon and Wood to get back in the game (36-32) less than two minutes in. The Skyhawks held a six-point lead (41-35) after a three-point play from Bramanti, but the Pioneers reeled off seven-straight to take a lead (42-41) after a three-point play from Pryor with 2:40 to go in the quarter.
Bramanti capped the third with a three to send Stonehill into the fourth with the lead (47-45), but Sacred Heart started fast again, using an 8-2 spurt to grab a six-point advantage (55-49) with a Brannon layup two minutes in after Wood sparked the frame with a conventional three-point play and then three-point shot. The Skyhawks were back within five (59-54) after a three-point play from Bramanti halfway through the quarter, but that was as close as the hosts would get as the Pioneers finished the game on an 11-2 run to seal the win.
Noteworthy
- Stonehill shot 54.2-percent (13-for-24) from the floor in the first half, including 5-for-9 (55.6%) from three, but was limited to 20% (6-for-30) in the second, including 1-for-13 from long range.
- Sacred Heart meanwhile recovered from 34.5% (10-29) first half shooting, including 1-for-6 from deep, to connect on 57.1% (16-for-28) in the second, including 9-for-13 (69.2%) in the fourth quarter alone, as the Pioneers hit 4-of-8 second half threes.
- Sacred Heart was also helped by a 17-3 advantage in second chance points while only holding a 39-35 rebounding edge, including 14-12 on the offensive glass.
- Bramanti posted her third 20-point game of the season (seventh career), giving her double-figures in ten-straight games and 13 times this season overall.
- This afternoon marked the 19th meeting all-time between these two programs, but the first since a 69-55 Stonehill win in Fairfield, Connecticut, on December 1, 1996. Sacred Heart earned just the second win in the all-time series that dates back to 1981, with its first Merkert Gym win (1-9) as Stonehill now holds a 17-2 advantage all-time.
Up Next
Stonehill (5-11, 1-2 NEC) returns to action next Saturday, when it visits Merrimack College for an NEC matchup in North Andover, Massachusetts, at 3 p.m. The Skyhawks return home on Saturday, January 21, to host LIU at Merkert Gym at 2 p.m. Sacred Heart (5-9, 2-0 NEC) hosts Saint Francis University of Brooklyn next Saturday at 2 p.m.
For the latest on Stonehill Athletics, follow the Skyhawks via social media on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Fans can also download the Stonehill Skyhawks "Front Row" mobile app, powered by PrestoSports, on iTunes and the Android Market.
