Reuter double-double leads balanced Skyhawks effort

Reuter paced the Skyhawks with her third double-double of the season, posting 12 points and a career-high matching 12 rebounds (PHOTO BY Lewis Glass/SportsPix)

EASTON, Mass. (February 5, 2020) – Stonehill College, ranked No. 6 in this week's D2SIDA East Region poll, took control in the second half and kept its momentum going with a key 65-55 triumph over rival Bentley University, ranked No. 4 in the D2SIDA East poll, in Northeast-10 Conference women's basketball action on Paula Sullivan Court at Merkert Gymnasium tonight. 

Leaders

Stonehill

Gabrielle Reuter Senior, Forward: Third double-double of the season with 12 points (6-for-14) and a career-high matching 12 rebounds (seven offensive), with a blocked shot.

Emily Bramanti Sophomore, Guard: 12 points (4-for-9), six rebounds, three assists.

Kayla Raymond Sophomore, Forward: 11 points (6-for-6 FTs), seven rebounds, four assists, two blocked shots and a steal.

Grace Carter Senior, Guard: Ten points (4-for-8, 2-for-3 threes), career-high matching six rebounds.

Bentley

Monica Viapiano Senior, Center: 13 points (6-for-15) and six rebounds.

Kari Brekke Sophomore, Guard: 12 points (5-for-15) and three rebounds.

Julia Ford Senior, Guard: Nine points (4-for-7) and three rebounds.

Bramanti added 12 points, six rebounds and three assists off the bench (PHOTO BY Peter Buehner)

How it Happened

• Stonehill took the key NE10 Northeast Divisional and East Region clash despite 30.8-percent shooting as it held its fourth-straight opponent under 60 points to win for the fourth-straight game and eighth game over its last nine.
• Stonehill trailed by eight (26-18) after a Viapiano layup with four minutes remaining in the second quarter, but scored the final seven points of the half, keyed by a Carter three-pointer, to pull within one (26-25) at the intermission.
• Stonehill grabbed its first lead since the opening basket of the game with a Reuter layup 17-seconds into the third quarter and stretched it to five (33-28) when Carter capped a 15-2 run that wrapped around halftime with a three-pointer two minutes into the third.
• Reuter gave Stonehill a seven-point cushion (39-32) with a layup midway through the third. The Skyhawks lead was still seven (44-37) with three minutes to play in the frame, when Bentley closed within two (44-42) on a layup by senior Maddy Springfield a minute later.
• Stonehill finished the quarter strong again, scoring six-straight for an eight-point lead (50-42) on two free-throws by sophomore Sophie Glidden with 15-seconds remaining, before settling for a six point lead (50-44) heading to the fourth.
• Reuter opened the fourth quarter with a jumper to restore Stonehill's eight point cushion (52-44) and then the Skyhawks stretched the lead to nine (55-46) on a Madison Seymour three-pointer with 7:21 remaining.
• Bentley trimmed the lead to five (55-50) as Viapiano split two free-throws with 5:43 left, but would get no closer as Stonehill closed the game out from there, with Bramanti getting a key three-point play as the Skyhawks lead grew to ten (62-52) when two Raymond free-throws sealed the game with 32-seconds left.

Noteworthy

• Stonehill holds sole possession of second place in the NE10's Northeast Division with the win, just a game behind Saturday's opponent Saint Anselm College with five games to play. The Skyhawks have already clinched their 39^th-straight NE10 Tournament appearance. Stonehill can clinch a first round bye with a win or Southern New Hampshire University loss (vs. Assumption) on Saturday.
• Reuter's third double-double of the season is the fifth of her career.
• Reuter blocked a shot, giving her 124 in 98 career games to move into a tie for fifth in program history, along with Susie Tully, '01 (124).
• Carter's two three-point field goals give her 159 in 92 career games, moving into a tie for sixth in program history along with Kristen McDonnell, '03 (159).

Up Next

Stonehill (15-5, 11-3 NE10) returns to action on Saturday, when it faces regionally-ranked Saint Anselm College, also receiving votes in this week's D2SIDA Top 25 Media Poll, for another key NE10 matchup in Manchester, New Hampshire, at 1:30 p.m. The Skyhawks return to Merkert Gym on Saturday, February 15, to host Assumption College for its Play4Kay Game at 1:30 p.m. Bentley (15-7, 10-4 NE10) hosts Saint Michael's College on Saturday at 1:30 p.m.

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