McCord's 20 points lead four Trailblazers in double-figures

Thornton reached double-figures for the sixth time in seven games, scoring ten of her 12 points in the first half (PHOTO BY Bob Blanchard)

EASTON, Mass. (November 25, 2023) – Utah Tech University jumped out to a ten-point first quarter lead behind 64.7-percent shooting and never looked back in posting an 81-58 victory over Stonehill College in a non-conference women's basketball matchup on Paula Sullivan Court at Merkert Gymnasium this afternoon.

Fifth-year guard Maggie McCord led four Utah State players in double-figures with a game-high 20 points on 7-of-10 shooting, including 6-for-9 from three-point distance, while freshman Calyn Dallas added 16 points in 22 minutes off the bench, connecting on 4-of-8 three-pointers. Fifth-year Breaunna Gillen filled the box score with 13 points, six rebounds, seven assists and a steal, while sophomore Macie Warren rounded out the Trailblazers in double-figures with 12 points, five assists, two boards and two steals.

Postgrad Anna Boruta scored 12 of her team-high 14 points in the second half, finishing 4-for-7 from the floor, including 3-for-5 from three, with three rebounds. Senior Jada Thornton netted ten of her 12 points in the first half to go with three boards, while sophomore Paige Martin tallied seven points, eight rebounds and two assists.

Back-to-back baskets from Thornton and Martin put Stonehill on the board and back within a point (5-4) less than three minutes into the game. Utah Tech, who never trailed in the contest, followed with 11 of the next ten points to grab a double-digit lead (16-6) midway through the opening quarter, capped by McCord's second three-pointer of the frame. The Skyhawks pulled back within five (16-11) with a three-pointer from junior Sharn Hayward less than a minute later, but the Trailblazers followed with a 10-2 run for a 13-point cushion (26-13) on a Warren triple with 1:41 left.

Boruta netted 12 of her team-high 14 points in the second half, connecting on 3-of-5 three-pointers (PHOTO BY Bob Blanchard)

Utah Tech carried an 11-point lead into the second quarter (26-15) and stretched that advantage to 20 (37-17) with another McCord three with 5:54 to play in the half. Stonehill was able to close within 14 (37-23) after six-straight points from Thornton, but the Trailblazers reclaimed their 20-point lead twice before taking a 19-point advantage (47-28) into halftime.

Stonehill started well in the second half, closing the gap to 13 (52-39) after a layup off a turnover by freshman Catelyn Wheeler with 4:28 to play in the third, but would get no closer as McCord buried back-to-back threes and Warren capped the third with a three to give the Trailblazers a 20-point cushion (61-41) into the fourth to close the game out from there. 

Noteworthy

• Thornton scored in double-figures for the sixth time in seven games this season (ninth career).
• Junior Maureen Stapleton, the NEC's leading rebounder, led Stonehill for the sixth time in seven games, matching Martin's team-high total of eight today.
• Hayward dished out a career-high seven assists.
• Boruta posted her third double-figure scoring game of the season, leading the Skyhawks in scoring for the first time.
• Freshman Brooke Paquette chipped in with a season-high six rebounds.
• Stonehill opened its first of two three-game homestands with today's game and have dropped the first seven games of its season for the first time in the program's history.

Up Next
Stonehill (0-7, 0-0 NEC) is right back in action here at Merkert Gym on Wednesday night when it hosts College of the Holy Cross to continue a three-game homestand at 7:30 p.m. Utah Tech (4-2, 0-0 WAC) opens Conference play at Utah Valley University next Saturday, December 2, at 2 p.m. (MST).

Tickets for Stonehill basketball games can be purchase in advance online at stonehillskyhawks.com/tickets, with single game and season ticket packages available.

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.