Center Kelsey Simonds of Middleboro delivered on the expectations that were placed on her shoulders when she joined the Skyhawks’ program in 2005 after a brilliant career at Cardinal Spellman High School.

She enters the NCAA Div. 2 tournament this week as Stonehill’s all-time leader in blocked shots with 244, is second in rebounds with 897 and ranks sixth in points with 1,648 in 112 games.

Her contributions to the Skyhawks have come in a variety of ways with Simonds earning All-Northeast-10 Conference first-team honors three times and being picked as an All-America honorable mention twice.

It has been quite a run for Simonds, the NE-10 freshman of the year in 2005-06, but all the high notes did not come without obstacles.

The three-time Enterprise All-Scholastic had a series of hurdles, in the form of injuries, to deal with during her Stonehill career.

Simonds had to sit out the 2006-07 season after twice breaking her left foot, needed surgery during the 2008-09 season after suffering a broken right hand and missed time this winter with a severe right ankle sprain.

After having “only bumps and bruises’’ during her Cardinal Spellman career, Simonds had plenty of injury issues to deal with at Stonehill.

“I just think that it happens to a lot of kids once they get to college,’’ said Simonds, a graphic design and education major who graduates in May. “You get hurt. But I think I’m a better player from it because I can deal with pain better and play through adversity.

“I kind of maybe took the game for granted, and over the past five years, just being hurt and on the sidelines, it really made me appreciate how much I love the game.’’

Simonds, who redshirted in ’06-07 because of the broken foot, kept bouncing back from all that adversity.

After averaging 10.3 points and 7.4 rebounds off the bench as a freshman, Simonds returned from the broken foot to average 17 points and eight rebounds two seasons ago. Last year, Simonds averaged 15.2 points and 8.6 rebounds and is averaging 16.2 points and 7.7 rebounds this season.

“It’s been incredibly hard, but she has a high pain tolerance,’’ said Stonehill coach Trisha Brown. “With each injury comes a bit more to play through. It’s been a challenge for her, but she always finds a way to come back. She finds a way to deal with it.

“We knew we were getting somebody who was a potential impact player and she has been that, even with the injuries. I marvel at the career that she has had. To be able to coach a player like Kelsey, I just feel lucky to have that opportunity. She is not only so talented, but she is just such a good kid.’’

The first time Simonds was injured was March 3, 2006, in the semifinal round of the NE-10 tournament against Saint Rose in New Haven, Conn.

“I was running out to the 3-point line to cover Linsey (Onishuk), who is my assistant coach here now,’’ said Simonds. “I came down and I could tell right away it wasn’t just an ankle sprain.’’

Simonds put in all the necessary rehabilitation work to get ready for the ’06-07 season after breaking the foot, but during an informal workout in October, she suffered the same injury, wiping out that season.

The 2007-08 season was the only time Simonds made it through without a significant ailment, and the Skyhawks won the conference regular-season and tournament championships.

Last year, however, during a four-overtime victory against Bentley University, the injury woes returned.

On Jan. 28, 2009, in a game in which she had 30 points, 16 rebounds and seven blocked shots, Simonds broke her hand when she landed on the floor.

Surgery was required so that Simonds could get back before the end of the season, and she helped the Skyhawks make the final round of the East Regional before losing to Franklin Pierce University.

“It was different from my foot so I didn’t think it was bad,’’ said Simonds, who has 30 double-doubles in her career. “But when I went to the doctor, I had to get surgery if I wanted to play in three weeks, and even that was pushing it.

“I wanted to play through it. It was bothering me a lot when I came back. It wasn’t just like a hairline fracture. They had to put hardware in. I tried not to think about it. Once the game got going, I think adrenaline helped. I didn’t really notice that much of a difference. I mean, I was in pain but I could still shoot.’’

Simonds sprained her ankle this season on Jan. 23 at Adelphi University, causing her to miss five games with Stonehill going 1-4.

“I did some damage to my tendon, but it’s getting better,’’ she said. “It still bothers me.’’

Her career now winding down after being on campus for five years and piling up big numbers, Simonds is happy she has been part of the Stonehill program.

“I definitely didn’t think I’d go through this much adversity,’’ she said, “but I can look back at all the memories and I wouldn’t change a thing – except for the injuries.

“I had high expectations for myself coming here. I always keep looking back and thinking, ‘What if?’ But I can’t really have that mentality, especially with the tournament coming up and I know this is it."