Ye leads Devils with MVP performance, netting 32 points
Reuter scored a career-high 20 points and earned All-Tournament team honors for the Skyhawks (PHOTO BY Jan Volk/SportsPix) |
EASTON, Mass. (December 30, 2018) – University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, ranked No. 9 in the most recent Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Division II poll and No. 16 in the D2SIDA Top 25 Media poll, pulled away in the second half to claim an 80-75 victory over Stonehill College, ranked No. 25 by the WBCA and receiving votes in the D2SIDA Top 25 media poll, to bring the 2018 Stonehill Holiday Classic to a close on Paula Sullivan Court at Merkert Gymnasium this afternoon.
Sophomore Irisa Ye and senior Alex Thomas combined for 53 points for USciences and led the Stonehill Holiday Classic All-Tournament team. Ye scored 26 of her game-high 32 points in the second half, including ten in the fourth quarter, to lock down Most Valuable Player honors at the weekend event as she finished shooting 10-for-13 from the floor, draining both three-point attempts, and converting all 12 free-throws, including eight in the fourth, to go with three steals, two rebounds and an assist. Thomas added 21 points on 8-of-15 shooting, including 3-for-6 from beyond the arc, and three boards to earn All-Tournament team honors.
No other USciences players reached double-figures, but junior Jordan Vitelli contributed seven points, seven rebounds (four offensive), three assists and a steal as the Devils finished off a 3-0 weekend in the area against a trio of regionally-ranked teams, that included wins at nationally-ranked Bentley University on Friday and Stonehill today. Sophomore Jess Huber chipped in nine points on 3-of-5 shooting from deep off the bench for USP.
Junior Gabrielle Reuter and freshman Kayla Raymond represent Stonehill on the All-Tournament team after their efforts today. Reuter scored 14 of her career-high 20 points after halftime, finishing 10-for-13 from the field, to go with three rebounds (all offensive), four assists, two steals and a blocked shot. Raymond scored 13 of her 17 points in the first half, hitting 7-of-15 shots, including 1-for-2 from three, with three rebounds, two steals and two blocked shots. Junior Grace Carter contributed 14 points, hitting 4-of-6 threes, five boards, five assists, a block and a steal. Sophomore Jennifer Worden chipped in nine points and freshman Emily Bramanti seven for the hosts.
The top-25 matchup largely lived up to the billing for a mid-season matchup, with the game featuring seven ties and seven lead changes and neither team leading by more than nine points on the afternoon. USciences led by nine (29-20) midway through the second quarter after a 10-0 run capped by back to back three-pointers from Thomas and Huber, after Ye scored four-straight points. Stonehill responded with an 11-1 run to reclaim the lead (31-30) after a Raymond layup with 1:47 left before the break.
Raymond also collected All-Tournament team honors, finishing with 17 points. (PHOTO BY Jan Volk/SportsPix) |
The teams went into the half deadlocked at 33-33 and the teams opened the second half by trading three-pointers, with Ye netting a pair around one from Carter over the opening two minutes of the third quarter. USciences began to inch away during the quarter, outscoring Stonehill 27-22 for the frame, which would prove to be the deciding spread. The Devils grabbed a five-point lead (48-43) with a Thomas three-pointer midway through the frame, with the cushion reaching eight (56-48) on a Huber triple with 2:45 left.
Stonehill pulled back within three (58-55) after a Reuter basket in the paint with 31-seconds left in the third, but Ye gave USciences the five point margin (60-55) heading to the fourth. Thomas pushed the Devils back in front by nine (64-55) with 7:35 to play, by scoring the first four points of the fourth quarter. The Skyhawks closed the gap to four twice in the final four minutes, but could get no closer as the visitors canned 10-of-12 free throws down the stretch, with Ye converting all six of her tries, while adding another basket, to seal the win.
In today's Stonehill Holiday Classic opener, Assumption College (9-4, 5-2 NE10) outscored Molloy College (6-7, 1-3 ECC) 23-13 in the fourth quarter to pick up a 59-51 victory to earn a split of its two games over the weekend. Senior Morgan O'Donnell scored seven of her 11 points in the deciding fourth quarter, adding seven rebounds and four blocked shots, while junior Brianna Capacchione notched a double-double to solidify a spot on the All-Tournament team with 11 points and ten rebounds, adding three assists and two steals. Sophomore Melody Prichard led the Lions with 14 points and six rebounds.
Stonehill (10-3, 5-2 NE10) has the next ten days off, before returning to action on Wednesday, January 9, at American International College for a Northeast-10 matchup at 5:30 p.m. The Skyhawks return to Merkert Gym on Wednesday, January 16, to host The College of Saint Rose at 5:30 p.m. USciences (11-0, 2-0 CACC) returns to league play at No. 13/19 Jefferson University on Thursday at 6 p.m.
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.
