Senior Kelsey Simonds returned after a five-game absence and led Stonehill with 18 points in 24 minutes on Saturday. |
Simonds Leads Stonehill Past Saint Michael's, 56-39
Skyhawk senior returns with game-high 18 points in 24 minutes
EASTON, Mass. (February 13, 2010) - Stonehill College, among teams receiving votes in this week's USA Today/ESPN/Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) poll and ranked fifth in the NCAA Division II East Regional rankings, returned to the win column with a 56-39 triumph over Saint Michael's College in Northeast-10 Conference women's basketball action at Merkert Gymnasium this afternoon.
Senior Kelsey Simonds (Middleboro, Mass./Cardinal Spellman) returned to the Stonehill lineup after a five game absence and led the way with a game-high 18 points on 8-of-13 shooting from the field, while converting both free-throw attempts, to go with five rebounds, three steals, two blocks and two assists in 24 minutes of action. Juniors Kristen McWhirter (Melvin Village, N.H./New Hampton Prep) and Emily Rousseau (Biddeford, Maine/Biddeford) each added ten points for the Skyhawks. McWhirter made 4-of-9 shots from the field, including 2-for-5 from three-point range, to go with six assists, two rebounds and two steals. Rousseau also made 4-of-9 shots from the field, including 2-of-4 three-pointers, and four rebounds. Senior Erin Gray (Clifton Park, N.Y./Shenedehowa) chipped in by grabbing a game and career-high matching 12 rebounds.
No Saint Michael's players reached double-figures with senior Alexis Keller (Harrington Park, N.J./Old Tappan) leading the way with nine points, draining 2-of-4 three-pointers, to go with two assists and two steals. Juniors Megan McCormack (Barrie, Ontario/Saint Peter's Secondary) and Logan Pintka (Schenectady, N.Y./Colonie Central) each added seven points, while senior Michelle Otey (Southborough, Mass./Algonquin Regional) pulled down a team-best eight rebounds.
Junior Kristen McWhirter added ten points and six assists. |
Stonehill finished shooting 46.2-percent (24-for-52) from the field, including 12-for-24 (50%) in the second half, while Saint Michael's was limited to 29.4% (15-51) shooting, including just 6-for-29 (20.7%) in the opening half as the Skyhawks built a 13-point (29-16) halftime lead. Stonehill posted a 36-30 rebounding advantage. The Skyhawks halted a four-game losing streak, going 1-4 in their five games without Simonds in the lineup, and remained a game in front of The College of Saint Rose for the fourth and final first round bye in the upcoming NE-10 Tournament.
Stonehill never trailed, scoring the first five points of the game on a McWhirter three and Simonds jumper in the opening minute. The Skyhawks lead was three (17-14) midway through the first half, before closing out the frame with a 12-2 run to open a 13-point lead (29-16) with 2:58 left in the half as neither team scored the rest of the way. Simonds had four points during that stretch, with a Rousseau jumper capping the run.
Stonehill kept the pressure on at the restart, netting the first nine points of the second half, on five points from McWhirter and four by Simonds, to push its lead to 22 points (38-16) 2:22 into the frame. A three-pointer by senior Megan Methven (Corning, N.Y./Corning East) pushed the Skyhawks lead to a game-high 24-points (45-21) with 10:16 left and Saint Michael's wouldn't get within 17 the rest of the way.
Stonehill (18-8, 13-6 NE-10) is back in action on Wednesday when it hosts Saint Anselm College in its final regular season home game at 5:30 p.m. Saint Michael's (7-15, 5-14 NE-10) hosts Southern New Hampshire University on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.
