Loder led the Skyhawks with a career-high 28 points, draining 4-of-7 three-pointers (PHOTO BY Brian Foley) |
Bray drains six three-pointers on her way to 22 points for Warriors
NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. (January 14, 2023) – Merrimack College buried half of its three-point attempts and finished shooting 52.7-percent from the floor to claim an 80-72 victory over Stonehill College in Northeast Conference women's basketball action on Bert Hammel Court at the Volpe Athletic Complex this afternoon.
Postgrad Makenzie Bray drained six of Merrimack's ten three-point field in the contest on her way to a team-high 22 points on 7-of-12 shooting overall, including 6-for-10 from long range, while adding four rebounds, two assists a blocked shot and a steal. Junior Amaya Staton added 17 points on 5-of-10 shooting, converting 7-of-8 free-throws, with seven rebounds, two assists and two blocks, while senior Jayme DeCesare rounded out the Warriors in double-figures with 12 points, six rebounds, four assists and three steals.
Stonehill got a career-high 28 points from postgrad Maddie Loder as she made her first six shots in the game, including a trio of three-pointers, on her way to 9-of-13 shooting overall, including 4-for-7 from deep, converting 6-of-7 free-throws and dished out three assists. Loder scored 15 points in the first quarter alone, all coming in the opening six and a half minutes of the frame as the Skyhawks led by as much as seven on three occasions over the first five minutes of the game.
Fifth-year Emily Bramanti added 16 points, including 13 in the second half, on 6-of-12 shooting, including 4-for-6 from three, with four assists and two boards, while classmate Sophie Glidden rounded out the Skyhawks in double-figures with 12 points and three boards.
Bramanti added 16 points for her 11th-straight double-figure scoring game (PHOTO BY Brian Foley) |
Stonehill scored nine of the first 11 points in the game to grab its first seven-point lead after Loder's first three of the day two minutes in. Freshman Melissa Whitmore, making her first collegiate start, connected with a jumper 40-seconds later for the Skyhawks second seven-point cushion (11-4), before Loder's second triple provided a 16-9 Stonehill lead with 5:54 remaining in the opening frame.
Stonehill's lead was still five (19-14) following another Loder three with 4:16 left in the first, before Merrimack closed the frame with a 13-5 run, sparked by a Bray triple, for a three-point lead (27-24) heading to the second. DeCesare and Bray connected from long range to open the second quarter and give the Warriors a quick nine-point advantage (33-24) 65-seconds in.
Merrimack held Stonehill at arm's length and took a six-point lead into halftime. Stonehill opened the second half with a 12-2 run to reclaim the lead (48-44) after a Loder jumper off a Bramanti steal 3:19 into the third quarter. The Warriors answered by closing the third with a 9-2 spurt, with six of the nine points scored at the free-throw line before Bray capped the frame with a three-pointer for a five-point lead (57-52) heading to the fourth.
Merrimack extended its run to 18-4 over the first four minutes of the final quarter to open up a 12-point lead (66-54) after a jumper from sophomore Ava Owens. Stonehill crept back within seven (73-66) on a Bramanti three-pointer with 1:42 remaining, but the Warriors sealed the win as Bray answered with a three at the other end and held the Skyhawks to just six points the rest of the way, offering a response each time on its own side of the floor.
Noteworthy
- Stonehill and Merrimack were meeting for the 85th time, but the first at the NCAA Division I level for the two former Northeast-10 Conference members.
- All of Stonehill's scoring came from its starting five, with the Merrimack bench outscoring the Skyhawk reserves 16-0.
- Stonehill and Merrimack both finished with ten three-pointers, but the Warriors were a more efficient 10-for-20 (50%), compared to 10-for-24 (41.7%) for the visitors.
- Loder and Bramanti finished a combined 15-for-25 from the floor (60%), including 8-for-13 (61.5%) from three, while the remainder of the team shot 11-for-33 (33.3%), including 2-for-11 from deep.
- Loder's career-high 28 points bests her previous high of 18 against Memphis in 2019 during her time at George Washington. She scored in double-figures for the seventh time this season (19th career).
- Bramanti reached double-figures for the 11th-straight game and 40th time in her career overall.
- Whitmore made her first collegiate start for Stonehill this afternoon and chipped in with a season-high nine points and seven rebounds, leading the Skyhawks in rebounding.
Up Next
Stonehill (5-12, 1-3 NEC) is right back in action on Monday when it visits Fairleigh Dickinson University for an NEC "Speaks Up" Martin Luther King, Jr. Day matinee at 2 p.m. The Skyhawks return home next Saturday, January 21, to host LIU at Merkert Gym at 2 p.m. Merrimack (2-12, 1-3 NEC) hosts Wagner College on Monday at 5 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.
