Senior Paige Marshall led the Skyhawks with 21 points, including the 1,000th of her career, in a key win over SNHU today. (PHOTO BY Mike Tureski/SportsPix)

Marshall leads Skyhawks with 21 points, including 1000^th of career, on Senior Day

EASTON, Mass. (February 20, 2016) – Stonehill College moved one step closer to clinching a record 35^th straight appearance in the upcoming Northeast-10 Conference Tournament following a crucial 69-58 victory over Southern New Hampshire University in NE-10 women's basketball action on Senior Day at Paula Sullivan Court at Merkert Gymnasium this afternoon.

Senior Paige Marshall (Braintree, Massachusetts/Braintree) and junior Kelly Martin (Scituate, Massachusetts/Scituate) combined for 41 points to lead Stonehill to a second-straight win. Marshall scored 16 of her game-high 21 points in the second half, including the 1,000^th of her career, as she made 7-of-18 shots from the field and converted 6-of-7 free-throws to go with four rebounds and two blocked shots. Marshall becomes the 29^th player in program history to reach the 1,000 point plateau, finishing her 113^th career game with 1,008 points. She also started her 111^th career game on Senior Day to move within three of the program record 114 by Jillian Middlemiss '04.

Martin added 20 points on 8-of-19 shooting with six rebounds, five assists and three steals, while freshman Maty Diabate (Holden, Massachusetts/Wachusett Regional) added 14 points off the bench on 6-of-7 shooting, converting both free-throws, with four steals, two rebounds and two assists. Sophomore Samantha Hyslip (Westford, Massachusetts/Westford Academy) chipped in with nine points and three assists, while senior Shannon Brown (Las Vegas, Nevada/Centennial) pulled down a team-high eight rebounds.

Junior Sara Ryan (Quincy, Massachusetts/Archbishop Williams) was the lone Southern New Hampshire player in double figures with 11 points on 4-of-8 shooting from the field, including 2-for-4 from three-point distance, off the bench. Freshman Kylie Lorenzen (Holliston, Massachusetts/Holliston) contributed nine points off the bench on 4-of-6 shooting, while classmate Brianna Camara (Fall River, Massachusetts/Durfee) chipped in with seven points, eight rebounds, four assists and two steals.

Junior Kelly Martin added 20 points, six rebounds, five assists and three steals. (PHOTO BY Lewis Glass/SportsPix)

Stonehill finished shooting 39.7-percent from the field (27-for-68), including 48.5-percent (16-33) in the second half, converting 12-of-14 (85.7%) free-throws. The Skyhawks enjoyed a 23-8 advantage in points off turnovers, turning the ball over just 12 times, compared to 23 for SNHU, holding a 38-37 rebounding edge. Southern New Hampshire shot 42.6% (23-54) from the floor, but made just 9-of-15 (60%) free-throws.

After a 27-27 halftime deadlock, Marshall opened the third quarter with a three-pointer and Stonehill wouldn't trail again. The teams traded baskets until the Skyhawks were able to take a five point lead (39-34) after a three-point play from Diabate with 4:54 to play in the quarter. SNHU pulled back within a point (39-38) with a layup from senior Erin Doherty (Marshfield, Massachusetts/Marshfield) with 2:47 to play in the frame, but Marshall restored Stonehill's five point cushion with a three-point play that produced her 1,000^th career point with 1:23 left in the third.

Stonehill carried that five point lead (48-43) into the final quarter, stretching it to seven (50-43) with a Diabate jumper 30-seconds in. SNHU drew back within a point (50-49) after a layup by sophomore Catherine Stinson (Lynn, Massachusetts/Lynn English) with seven minutes remaining. Stonehill used a 10-2 run over the next four and a half minutes to take a nine point lead (62-53) after a Martin jumper with two minutes to go. After a layup by sophomore Jennifer Shelp (Apalachin, New York/Vestal), the Skyhawks pulled away for good, scoring the next seven points to open a 14 point gap (69-55) after a Hyslip jumper with 13-seconds left.

Stonehill (14-12, 9-11 NE-10) closes out the regular season on Tuesday when it visits Saint Michael's College for an NE-10 matchup at 5:30 p.m. The Skyhawks are currently tied with Merrimack College for the fifth and final spot in the upcoming NE-10 Tournament from the Northeast Division, but presently hold the league tiebreaker over the Warriors by way of a split of the regular season series with Saint Anselm College, however, Merrimack could reverse that tiebreaker with a win over Bentley University in its regular season finale on Tuesday should the two remain in a two-way after splitting their two regular season games. Both teams are also currently just a game behind fourth place Franklin Pierce University. Southern New Hampshire (14-12, 8-12 NE-10), which had its postseason hopes dashed with today's loss (0-4 against Merrimack and Stonehill combined), hosts Saint Anselm on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.

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Thank you seniors and families!