Reuter matched her season-high with 18 points to lead the Skyhawks past Franklin Pierce (PHOTO BY Tom Weishaar)

Reuter's season-high matching 18 points lifts Skyhawks into first place in NE10 Northeast

RINDGE, N.H. (February 12, 2020) – Stonehill College, receiving votes in this week's Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Division II poll and ranked No. 3 in the D2SIDA East Region poll, held Franklin Pierce University to just ten fourth quarter points and sealed its sixth-straight win with a 64-57 decision in Northeast-10 Conference women's basketball action inside the Franklin Pierce Fieldhouse tonight.

Stonehill extends its winning streak to six straight and ten of 11 since the New Year to take over sole possession of first place in the NE10's Northeast Division with three games to play. The Skyhawks are now a game in front of Saint Anselm College, who dropped an 88-83 decision to Manchester rivals Southern New Hampshire University last night, while also leading rival Bentley University by a game in the loss column. Stonehill, who are the lone program to qualify for all 39 NE10 Women's Basketball Tournaments since the Conference started sponsoring the championship in 1982, have also already secured a first-round bye. 

Leaders

Stonehill

Gabrielle Reuter Senior, Forward: Season-high matching 18 points (9-for-16), including eight in the first quarter, six rebounds (four offensive), two steals and two blocked shots.

Kayla Raymond Sophomore, Forward: Game-high matching 10 rebounds, with seven points, two steals and three blocked shots.

Emily Bramanti Sophomore, Guard: 9 points (4-for-7), three rebounds, two assists.

Madison Seymour Junior, Guard: 8 points (3-for-8, 2-for-5 threes).

Franklin Pierce

Izzy Lipinski Sophomore, Forward: Double-double with 20 points (8-for-18, 4-for-4 FTs), 10 rebounds, three assists, four steals and a blocked shot.

Rylee Skinner Sophomore, Guard: 10 points (5-for-6), six rebounds, two steals and an assist.

Emma Carter Sophomore, Forward: 10 points, four rebounds and two assists.

How it Happened

• Bramanti added nine points, three rebounds and two assists for the Skyhawks (PHOTO BY Peter Buehner)

  Stonehill battled back from a seven-point deficit (46-39) after a Lipinski layup with 3:30 remaining in the third to take a two-point lead (49-47) into the fourth. The Skyhawks connected on 4-of-6 threes in the frame and Raymond sparked their 10-0 run with the first five points of the run, including a three-pointer, while Seymour capped the run with a triple (49-46) before Carter capped the quarter scoring by splitting two free-throws for the Ravens.
• Reuter opened the fourth quarter scoring with a layup, but Franklin Pierce pulled even (51-51) on a Lipinski layup with 6:44 remaining.
• Bramanti scored the next five points, including a three-pointer, before sophomore Sophie Glidden capped the 7-0 Stonehill spurt with a jumper at the midway point of the quarter.
• Stonehill extended its lead to nine (62-53) with a Reuter jumper with 3:33 to play and the Skyhawks held Franklin Pierce to just four points, including one field goal, the rest of the way to close out the win.
• Franklin Pierce held leads in each of the first three quarters in the contest, but Stonehill finished every quarter strong, grabbing the lead at the end of each frame except the first, when it finished tied (13-13) after the Ravens scored the final five points of the frame, capped by a Carter three-pointer.
• Franklin Pierce scored the first seven points of the second quarter to extend its run to 12-0 after a Skinner layup 1:10 into the second for a seven-point edge (20-13).
• Stonehill followed with a 16-2 run to reverse the seven-point cushion (29-22) after a Reuter layup with 2:30 left in the half, before Franklin Pierce was able to trim its deficit to a point (31-30) heading to the intermission.

Noteworthy

• Stonehill are now winners of a season-high six straight and ten of 11 since the New Year to take its position atop the NE10's Northeast Division. It matches NE10 Southwest Division leaders Adelphi University for the longest current win streak in the Conference.
• Stonehill is 7-1 this season and 17-4 over her career when Raymond is the Skyhawks top rebounder.
• Reuter was appearing in her 100^th career game for Stonehill tonight. She joins classmate Kelsey Shaw, who has played 109 career games, in the century club.

Up Next

Stonehill (17-5, 13-3 NE10) is back in action on Saturday, when it returns to Merkert Gymnasium to host Assumption College for its Play4Kay Game at 1:30 p.m. Franklin Pierce (9-13, 3-12 NE10) visits Saint Michael's College on Saturday at 1:30 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.