Stonehill Ranked 21st in NABC Division II Poll

Skyhawks emerge in top 25 for first time this season after 7-1 start

Click for NABC Top 25 Poll 

Head coach David McLaughlin has directed Stonehill to seven-straight wins and back into the NABC Division II poll this week.

EASTON, Mass. (December 15, 2009) - The Stonehill College men's basketball team is ranked 21^st in this week's National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Division II poll. It marks the first time this season the Skyhawks have received a national ranking.

Stonehill has won seven-straight after dropping an overtime decision at Queens (N.Y.) College in its season-opener, including all six Northeast-10 Conference contests, to take over the top spot in the NE-10 standings. The Skyhawks, among teams receiving votes in last week's NABC poll, posted a commanding 79-60 victory over then 6^th-ranked Bentley University, ranked 23^rd this week, on Tuesday before closing out the week with a 64-57 decision at Franklin Pierce University on Friday night.

Stonehill held a national ranking as high as No. 10 last winter following a ten game winning streak.

Stonehill is led by the senior duo of A.J. Rudowitz (Monroe Township, N.J./Monroe Township) and Randall Stallworth (Toms River, N.J./Monsignor Donovan). Rudowitz, a two-time NE-10 Player of the Week this season, leads the team with 18.5 points (8^th NE-10), 9.4 rebounds (4^th) and 1.6 blocked shots (7^th) per game to go with 2.3 assists in 31.8 minutes per game. Stallworth is contributing 13.3 points and 5.5 assists (4^th) with 2.3 rebounds and 1.1 steals in 32.4 minutes per contest.

Stonehill (7-1, 6-0 NE-10) returns to action this Saturday when it hosts Post University for a non-conference contest in Merkert Gymnasium at 2 p.m. Admission is $7.00 for adults and $4.00 for students and senior citizens. Live video is also available online at www.stonehillskyhawks.tv for $6.99 with all-access passes also available for $59.99 which allows access to all live events through the website as well as the archives to be able to watch broadcasts at any time.