Hyslip posted her 14th career double-double and netted her 1,000th career point in leading the Skyhawks to a key NE10 win. (PHOTO BY Barry Gutradt) |
Hyslip becomes program's 31st 1,000-point scorer, notches 14th double-double
NEW HAVEN, Conn. (January 13, 2018) – Buoyed by a pair of double-double performances, Stonehill College, receiving votes in this week's D2SIDA Top 25 media poll and ranked fourth in the D2SIDA East Region poll, rallied for a 63-52 triumph over Southern Connecticut State University, ranked eighth in the region, in a key Northeast-10 Conference women's basketball matchup inside the Moore Fieldhouse this afternoon.
Seniors Samantha Hyslip (Westford, Massachusetts/Westford Academy) and Kelly Martin (Scituate, Massachusetts/Scituate) each notched double-doubles to lead Stonehill to its ninth-straight NE10 win, with Hyslip joining Martin as the 31st student-athlete in program history to surpass 1,000 career points. Hyslip scored 13 of her team-high 17 points in the second half, finishing 7-for-13 from the floor, to go with a career-high matching 15 rebounds (seven offensive) and three assists for her seventh double-double of the season (14th career). Martin tallied her fourth double-double of the year (sixth career) with 13 points and a career-high matching 11 rebounds, with six assists as she converted all seven free-throw attempts for the contest.
Senior Courtney Walsh (Windham, New Hampshire/Central Catholic) scored eight of her ten points in the opening half for Stonehill, with three rebounds and two assists. Classmate Elizabeth Grip (Shrewsbury, Massachusetts/Shrewsbury) chipped in nine points on 4-of-5 shooting and three blocked shots. Stonehill dominated the glass, posting a 46-32 rebounding advantage on the afternoon, and connected on 46.2-percent of its shots (12-for-26) in the second half, without a three-pointer, while limiting Southern Connecticut to 27.3% (9-33) shooting, including 1-for-13 (7.7%) from deep.
Martin notched her sixth career double-double as the Skyhawks dominated the glass. (PHOTO BY Peter Buehner) |
Senior Abby Hurlbert (Thomaston, Connecticut/Thomaston) scored a team-high 16 points for Southern Connecticut State on 6-of-19 shooting, with two rebounds and four steals. Sophomore Kiana Steinauer (Oakville, Ontario/St. Ignatius of Loyola) recorded a double-double for the Owls with 13 points and 13 rebounds, with three steals, canning 6-of-13 shots from the floor. Senior Murphy Murad (Storrs, Connecticut/E.O. Smith) chipped in with six assists.
Stonehill started quick, scoring the first seven points of the game, including five from Walsh, but Southern Connecticut State closed the first quarter with a 17-2 run to take an eight point lead (17-9) into the break behind seven points by Hurlbert and six by sophomore Imani Wheeler (Dumfries, Virginia/Potomac). The Owls run extended to 19-2 with a pair of Hurlbert free-throws to start the second quarter. The Skyhawks responded with a 13-2 run to regain the lead (22-21) after a Hyslip layup with 3:14 left in the half.
Southern reclaimed a four-point cushion (26-22) after a Hurlbert triple with 2:33 to go in the half, but Stonehill was able to level the score at the intermission (30-30) behind four points from Martin in the last two minutes.
Stonehill jumped out to another seven-point lead (39-32) three minutes into the third quarter after a three-point play from Martin. The Skyhawks scored the last five points of the frame to carry a nine-point lead (46-37) into the final quarter, keyed by a Hyslip three-point play.
Hyslip opened the fourth quarter scoring for Stonehill with two free-throws to reach 1,000 career points, before the Skyhawks extended their lead into double-figures (50-39) for the first time after a Hyslip jumper with 6:36 remaining.
Southern trimmed its deficit to six points twice midway through the fourth, but could get no closer. Stonehill reclaimed its 11-point lead (59-48) after a Grip three-point play and then sealed the win with a pair of free-throws and a Hyslip basket with 50-seconds to go for a 13-point advantage (63-50) before settling for the final 11-point winning margin.
Stonehill (13-2, 9-1 NE10) returns to action on Wednesday, when it hosts Le Moyne College for an NE10 matchup at Merkert Gymnasium at 5:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased in advance online at stonehillskyhawks.com. Southern Connecticut State (12-6, 6-4 NE10) visits Franklin Pierce University on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.
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