Paquette scored a team-high ten points to lead the Skyhawks this afternoon (PHOTO BY Bob Blanchard) |
Roberts leads Dolphins with game-high 14 in defensive battle
EASTON, Mass. (February 17, 2024) – Le Moyne College held off a fourth quarter rally from Stonehill College to secure a 55-44 defensive triumph in Northeast Conference women's basketball action on Paula Sullivan Court at Merkert Gymnasium this afternoon.
Junior forward Haedyn Roberts led Le Moyne with a game-high 14 points on 3-of-6 shooting from the floor, draining both three-point attempts, and converting 6-of-7 free-throws off the bench, to go with eight rebounds and two assists. Classmate Sydney Lusher added 12 points, six rebounds and two steals, while fifth-year Lytoya Baker rounded out the Dolphins in double-figures with 11 points and nine boards. Junior Emily Florvil chipped in nine points, seven rebounds and three assists.
Freshman Brooke Paquette was the lone Stonehill player in double-figures in the scoring column with ten points, while junior Maureen Stapleton grabbed a game-high ten rebounds to go with eight points on 3-of-4 shooting, including 2-for-3 from three-point distance, and four assists. Senior Cameron Ward chipped in nine points, six rebounds and two blocked shots.
Stonehill ran off eight straight points after Le Moyne scored the first four points of the game to grab an early four-point lead (8-4) halfway through the first quarter following consecutive three-pointers from Paquette and junior Sharn Hayward. Le Moyne responded with a 10-1 run to reclaim the lead with a five-point cushion with 1:32 left in the opening frame after a pair of three-pointers by Roberts.
Stapleton grabbed a game-high ten rebounds and added eight points and four assists (PHOTO BY Bob Blanchard) |
Stonehill pulled back within three (16-13) heading to the second quarter and pulled even with a Hayward triple 13-seconds into the frame. With the game tied at 18-18 three-minutes into the second, Le Moyne reeled off ten-straight points to open its first double-digit cushion (28-18) after a Lusher jumper with 1:43 to play before halftime.
Stonehill scored the final four points of the half to close within six (28-22) at the intermission, and the Skyhawks were able to close back within a possession three times over the first six minutes of the third quarter. Paquette drove for a layup to pull the Skyhawks within two (34-32) with four minutes remaining in the third, but Le Moyne scored the last six points of the quarter to restore its ten-point lead (42-32) after a Florvil jumper with a minute left in the frame.
Paquette opened the fourth with a three-pointer and Stonehill rallied again, closing within five (44-39) after a Stapleton three-pointer with 6:55 to play. The Skyhawks run reached 13-2 as Stapleton drained another three that cut the lead to a single point (45-44) with three minutes remaining. Le Moyne held the hosts scoreless from there, however, retaining a five-point lead (49-44) after a Baker layup and Lusher jumper with a minute to play. Le Moyne, which made 14-of-17 (82.4-percent) free-throws overall, made all six tries in the final 42-seconds to seal its third-straight win.
Noteworthy
- Paquette reached double-figures for the seventh time this season, but first since 11 points in Stonehill's win over Saint Francis here on January 25, snapping three-straight scoreless games.
- Stapleton pulled down double-digit rebounds for the seventh time this season (tenth career), leading Skyhawk rebounders for the 16th time this season (19th career).
- Stonehill matched a season-low with 14 turnovers and limited Le Moyne to 31.7-percent shooting, marking only the Skyhawks sixth loss over the last 126 occasions an opponent has shot under 35-percent.
- Le Moyne outscored Stonehill 14-4 at the free-throw line, converting 14-of-17 tries, compared to 4-for-10 for the Skyhawks.
- Le Moyne wins for just the second time in 20 all-time visits to Merkert Gym, posting its third-straight win over Stonehill overall.
Up Next
Stonehill (3-22, 3-9 NEC) heads back out on the road for its last two games away from Merkert Gym starting next Saturday at Saint Francis University in Loretto, Pennsylvania, in an NEC contest that will be broadcast on ESPN+ at 4 p.m. The Skyhawks return to Easton in two weeks to host Central Connecticut State University on Saturday, March 2, for Senior Day at 2 p.m. Le Moyne (12-13, 10-2 NEC) hosts LIU on Thursday at 7 p.m.
Tickets for home Stonehill basketball games can be purchased in advance online at stonehillskyhawks.com/tickets.
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