Bethany Tighe is averaging 13.6 points and 9.0 rebounds.

Undefeated Skyhawks, Ravens Tangle At The Hangar

North Easton, Mass. - Stonehill finally opens the home portion of their schedule on Saturday, with its stiffest test thus far, a matchup with undefeated Franklin Pierce beginning at 1:30 p.m. at Merkert Gymnasium.

The Skyhawks cruised through their first four contests of the season, outscoring their opponents by nearly 29 points per game.

Wednesday's contest with UMass-Lowell was unlike the others as the Skyhawks trailed for a large portion of the game, until rallying to force two overtimes. In the end, Stonehill got huge plays from Kelsey Simonds (Middleboro, Mass.), Kristen McWhirter (Melvin Village, N.H.) and Bethany Tighe (North Easton, Mass.) to put the RiverHawks away and snap a losing streak at Costello Gymnasium that dated back to December 2003.

The Ravens meanwhile are off to their best start since the 1995-96 season and after losing 14 of their first 15 all-time meetings with Stonehill, swept the season series last year.

After Stonehill opened last year 6-0, Franklin Pierce handed the Skyhawks their first loss behind a 39-point, 11-rebound performance by then freshman Johannah Leedham. Later in the season, Leedham posted another double-double against the Skyhawks, this time 20 points and 10 rebounds, as the Ravens took an 80-69 win in Easton.

Leedham has continued her spectacular play thus far this season, averaging 26.4 points and 8.6 rebounds. She is the only Raven averaging double figures.

Stonehill, who will play four games over the next seven days, has four players getting double digits every time they step out on the court, led by Simonds' 16.8 points and Tighe's 13.6. Those two also sit at three and four respectively in the Northeast-10 in rebounding at 9.6 for Simonds and 9.0 for Tighe.

Long range specialist, Meghan Methven (Corning, N.Y.) is scoring 12.4 a game and has dropped in 15 three pointers, while the freshman McWhirter has reached double figures in three out of five contests and is netting 11 an outing.

After today's contest, the Skyhawks host Assumption on Tuesday then travel to St. Rose on Thursday and Bentley next Saturday.