Walsh scored 18 of her career-high 24 points in the first half, burying eight three-pointers on the night. (PHOTO BY Peter Buehner) |
Miller scored 24 of her game-high 29 points in the second half for Red Hawks
EASTON, Mass. (November 18, 2016) – Roberts Wesleyan College, ranked No. 5 in this week's D2SIDA East Regional poll, overcame a seven point halftime deficit and claimed a 78-64 victory over Stonehill College in women's basketball action on day one of the Redhawks Alumni Classic at Voller Athletic Center tonight.
Freshman Emily Miller (Buffalo, New York) exploded for 24 of her game-high 29 points in the second half to lead Robert Wesleyan to the win. She made 9-of-12 shots from the field, including 7-for-9 in the second half, while converting 11-of-13 free-throw attempts to go with seven rebounds, three steals and two blocked shot. Classmate Taya Andrews (Fort Wayne, Indiana) added 16 points and seven boards, while junior Lucy Covley (Fairport, New York) assisted with nine points on 3-for-7 shooting from deep, six boards and three steals.
Junior Courtney Walsh (Windham, New Hampshire/Central Catholic) scored 18 of her career-high 24 points to lead Stonehill. She made 8-of-14 three-pointers, including 6-for-10 in the first half, to go with three assists, two rebounds and a steal. Classmate Samantha Hyslip (Westford, Massachusetts/Westford Academy) posted her first double-double of the season with 11 points and ten rebounds (five offensive), while freshman Kelsey Shaw (Bar Harbor, Maine/Mount Desert Island) recorded season-bests of nine points, six rebounds (four offensive) and four assists. Sophomore Maty Diabate (Holden, Massachusetts/Wachusett Regional) chipped in eight points and three boards.
Roberts Wesleyan finished shooting 41.1-percent from the field (23-for-56), converting 26-of-30 free-throws (86.7%), to go with a 20-14 edge in points off turnovers. Stonehill shot 36.8-percent from the floor (25-for-68), but made just 28.9% (11-38) of its shots in the second half, connecting on 9-of-24 three-pointers (37.5%). The Skyhawks made 7-of-13 threes in the opening half, including Walsh's hot start, but was limited to 2-for-11 (18.2%) in the second half, and posted a 14-4 advantage in second chance points.
Hyslip posted her first double-double of the season with 11 points and ten rebounds. (PHOTO BY Peter Buehner) |
Stonehill trailed by six after ten minutes of play (19-13), but outscored Roberts Wesleyan 25-12 in the second quarter to take a lead (38-31) into halftime. The Skyhawks trailed by five (25-20) after a three-pointer from senior Kindsay Brandt (Cincinnati, Ohio) two and a half minutes into the second. Walsh buried three triples over the next five minutes to key a 16-0 run that saw Stonehill open an 11 point cushion (36-25) 3:45 before halftime.
Roberts Wesleyan drew back within seven (38-31) at the half, keyed by a pair of Covley threes. Stonehill's lead was still seven (46-39) halfway through the third quarter and then RWC scored nine straight points to take the lead back (47-46) after a Miller layup with 3:14 left. The Redhawks carried a five point lead (56-51) into the fourth and extended it to nine (64-55) with a Miller layup with 6:39 to play.
After both teams went scoreless for the next two minutes, Walsh ended the drought with a three to draw Stonehill within six (64-58). The Skyhawks pulled within a possession (65-62) after a Shaw layup with three minutes to go, but would get no closer as they came up empty on their next five possessions, enabling Roberts Wesleyan to seal the win with 11 straight points for a 14 point lead (76-62) with 19-seconds left. The Redhawks made 7-of-8 free-throws during that stretch to clinch the victory.
Stonehill (2-1, 1-0 NE-10) is right back in action on Saturday, when it looks to rebound against Saint Joseph (Indiana) University at 1 p.m. The Skyhawks are back at Merkert Gym on Tuesday for an NE-10 matchup with Merrimack College at 5:30 p.m. Roberts Wesleyan (3-1, 0-1 ECC) hosts Lake Erie College tomorrow at 3 p.m.
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