Walsh scored a game-high 16 points to lead the Skyhawks to a 13th-straight win. (PHOTO BY Mike Tureski/SportsPix) |
Skyhawks clinch share of ninth NE10 regular season title with 13th-straight win
EASTON, Mass. (February 14, 2018) – Stonehill College, ranked No. 8 in this week's D2SIDA Top 25 Media Poll and 20th in the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Division II poll, clinched at least a share of its ninth Northeast-10 Conference regular season championship with a 62-51 decision over Merrimack College in NE10 women's basketball action on Paula Sullivan Court at Merkert Gymnasium tonight.
Seniors Courtney Walsh (Windham, New Hampshire/Central Catholic), Kelly Martin (Scituate, Massachusetts/Scituate) and Samantha Hyslip (Westford, Massachusetts/Westford Academy) combined for 43 points to lead Stonehill, ranked No. 1 in the NCAA Division II East Region rankings released today, to its 13th-straight win. Walsh netted a game-high 16 points to go with three assists, two rebounds and two steals, while Hyslip tallied 15 points on 7-of-12 shooting, and eight rebounds. Martin rounded out the Skyhawks double-figure scorers with 12 points, nine boards, four assists and a steal, without a turnover.
Sophomore Grace Carter (Arlington, Massachusetts/Arlington) dished out a career-high eight assists, with just one turnover, for Stonehill, while classmate Gabrielle Reuter (Plymouth, Massachusetts/Lawrence Academy) chipped in with six points, four rebounds and career-high matching five blocked shots.
Martin totaled 12 points, nine rebounds and four assists in the Skyhawks' 18th-straight NE10 win. (PHOTO BY SportsPix) |
Freshman Mayson Kimball (Webster, New Hampshire/The Tilton School) led three Merrimack players in double-figures with 15 points on 6-of-15 shooting, including 2-for-4 from three-point range, four rebounds and three assists. Junior Lindsay Werner (Groton, Massachusetts/Groton-Dunstable) added 12 points, while sophomore Denia Davis-Stewart (Dorchester, Massachusetts/New Mission) totaled ten points, eight rebounds and seven blocked shots.
Stonehill battled back from an eight-point deficit in the second quarter to take a two-point lead (28-26) into halftime. The Skyhawks outscored Merrimack 9-2 over the final four minutes of the second quarter, behind four different scorers. Freshman Jennifer Worden (Abington, Massachusetts/Abington) followed up a Martin layup with a three-pointer to give Stonehill its first lead since the opening minute of the game with 1:26 to play in the half. After a layup from sophomore Alyssa Torres (Bohemia, New York/Long Island Lutheran), Reuter capped the half with a layup to push the Skyhawks back in front at the intermission.
Stonehill wouldn't relinquish the lead again in the second half, grabbing an eight point advantage (37-29) midway through the third quarter after consecutive baskets by Hyslip. The Skyhawks carried a five-point lead (41-36) into the fourth, where they would connect on 7-of-9 shots (77.8-percent), including 2-for-3 from three, and 5-of-6 free-throws to clinch the win.
A Martin layup and Walsh three-pointer restored Stonehill's eight-point lead (46-38) less than a minute into the fourth. The Skyhawks lead reached double-digits (53-42) with a Walsh triple with 4:21 remaining. Merrimack was still within six (57-51) after a Werner jumper with 1:37 to play, but Walsh answered with a layup and Hyslip added a basket before canning 1-of-2 free-throws in the final minute to seal the win.
Stonehill (22-2, 18-1 NE10) is right back in action here at Merkert Gym on Saturday for Senior Day against Assumption College at 1:30 p.m. Tickets for Stonehill home games can be purchased online in advance at stonehillskyhawks.com. Merrimack (14-10, 10-9 NE10) visits nationally-ranked Bentley University on Saturday at noon.
For the latest on Stonehill Athletics, follow the Skyhawks via social media on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Fans can also download the Stonehill Skyhawks "Front Row" mobile app, powered by PrestoSports, on iTunes and the Android Market.
