Collins Scores 22 Points To Lead Quartet In Double Figures As 15th-Ranked Women's Basketball Collects 21st Victory In 24 Decisions On Season With 75-69 Northeast-10 Triumph At Franklin Pierce

February 11, 2006

STONEHILL WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Saturday, February 11, 2006

FPC Fieldhouse, Rindge, N.H.

FINAL:STONEHILL 75, FRANKLIN PIERCE 69

RINDGE, N.H.-- Junior Alisha Collins (Port Chester, N.Y.) scored 22 points and grabbed six rebounds to lead four players in double figures as 15th-ranked Stonehill picked up its 21st victory in 24 decisions on the season with a 75-69 Northeast-10 Conference women's basketball triumph over Franklin Pierce Saturday afternoon at the FPC Fieldhouse.

The visiting Skyhawks, now 21-3 overall and tied for first place in the Northeast-10 standings with 22nd-ranked Southern Connecticut at 16-3 in league play, overcame an early 11-point deficit to claim their 14th win in 15 series meetings with the host Ravens (13-11, 10-9 Northeast-10), as Franklin Pierce raced out to a 21-10 advantage just 9:20 into the game before Stonehill scored 14 of the game's next 16 points to take a one-point cushion, as the Skyhawks extended their lead to as many as eight points in the closing minutes of the half before settling for a 42-36 advantage at intermission.

Stonehill pushed that lead to as many as 11 points in the early stages of the second half and held a 61-54 edge with 7:49 remaining before the Ravens used a 15-7 run over a 4:03 stretch to take a 69-68 lead on a jumper by freshman Jennifer Leedham (Ellesmere Port, England) with 3:46 to play. The Skyhawks rallied to score the final seven points of the contest, as a three-pointer by senior Katelyn Crehan (Jackson, N.J.) gave Stonehill the lead for good at 71-69 on the ensuing possession, and a Collins lay-in coupled with a pair of free throws by sophomore Erika Stupinski (Topsham, Maine) in the final 1:14 of action sealed the visitors' triumph.

Collins, who recorded her 10th 20-point performance of the season in the win for Stonehill, was joined in double figures by Stupinski, who recorded 13 points, six assists and four steals on the day for the visitors, who also received 12 points from junior Kim Morast (Bridgewater, Mass.) as well as 10 points, six rebounds and four blocks off the bench from freshman Kelsey Simonds (Bridgewater, Mass.). Junior Caitlin Kennedy (Baldwin, N.Y.) added eight points on the day for the winners, who shot 47 percent from the field and canned six three-pointers while holding a 15-10 scoring edge at the line.

Senior Heather Jacobs (Stoughton, Mass.) led Franklin Pierce in the scoring column with 19 points and nine rebounds, while junior Danielle D'Ettorre (Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.) added a double-double effort of 13 points and 10 rebounds for the Ravens. Leedham and sophomore Josie Lidke (Chaska, Minn.) each collected nine points on the day for the hosts, who also received seven points, seven rebounds and six assists from freshman Heather Benton (Valley Springs, Calif.). Franklin Pierce shot 46 percent from the floor and held a 37-27 rebounding edge, but the Ravens hurt themselves with 17 turnovers.

Stonehill hosts Southern New Hampshire in a Northeast-10 outing on Wednesday evening at Merkert Gymnasium beginning at 5:30 p.m., while Franklin Pierce heads to North Andover, Mass. on Wednesday evening to take on Merrimack in a Northeast-10 match-up that also begins at 5:30 p.m.