Raymond paced the Skyhawks with 23 points for the second-straight game (PHOTO BY Bob Blanchard)

Skyhawks to host SW#4 Southern Conn. State in NE10 semifinal Thursday night

PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. (February 28, 2022) – Northeast Division No. 3 seed Stonehill College, ranked No. 8 in the latest NCAA Division II East Regional rankings, continued defense of its 2020 Northeast-10 Conference Championship with a 65-51 triumph over Southwest No. 2 Pace University, ranked No. 5 in the region, in quarterfinal round action of the 2022 NE10 Women's Basketball Tournament at the Goldstein Athletics Center tonight.

Stonehill (15-8, 12-7 NE10), the defending NE10 Tournament Champions, will now host an NE10 semifinal against Southwest No. 4 Southern Connecticut State University (13-13, 8-10 NE10) at Merkert Gymnasium on Thursday at 6 p.m. The Owls spun a 71-64 upset of Northeast Division top-seeded and East Region No. 1 Southern New Hampshire University (21-6, 15-4 NE10) in their quarterfinal in Manchester, New Hampshire, tonight. Pace (21-7, 14-5 NE10) will now await their NCAA Tournament fate when selections are made on Sunday night. 

Leaders

Stonehill
Kayla Raymond Senior, Forward: 23 points (9-for-16), 4 rebounds.
Mia Kelly Junior, Guard: 10 points (3-for-9, 2-for-4), 5 rebounds, 3 assists.
Sophie Glidden Senior, Forward: 9 points, 8 rebounds, assist, steal. 

Pace
Jasmine White Postgrad, Forward: 12 points (5-for-8), 9 rebounds, blocked shot.

Shanice Sinclair Sophomore, Guard: 12 points (4-for-8), 4 rebounds, steal.

Naya Rivera Postgrad, Guard: 7 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks.

How it Happened

• Kelly contributed 10 points, five rebounds and three assists (PHOTO BY Bob Blanchard)

  Stonehill jumped out to a six-point lead (8-2) behind five points from Raymond after she canned a three-pointer less than three minutes into the game. The eight-point run erased what proved to be Pace's lone lead of the night after Rivera scored the opening basket of the game.
• Pace closed back within a possession by the midway point of the opening quarter, but Glidden scored five straight points to claim a seven-point margin (21-14) with 48-seconds left in the frame.
• Stonehill carried a five-point lead (21-16) into the second and then traded baskets with Pace until Kelly hit a three for an eight-point cushion (28-20) with 1:58 remaining in the half.
• Pace trimmed the deficit back to five (30-25) at the intermission and was back within two (30-28) after White opened the third quarter with a three-pointer.
• Stonehill followed with nine straight points, including five by Kelly to open an 11-point lead (39-28) after a Kelly three-pointer with 5:46 to play in the third.
• Stonehill stretched the lead to 12 (43-31) with a Raymond layup with 2:42 left in the quarter and carried a double-digit lead (46-35) into the final frame.
• Pace scored the first five points of the fourth to pull back within six (46-40) after a three-pointer by freshman Arianna Stockinger less than two minutes into the frame.
• Stonehill held there, restoring its double figure lead (50-40) after two Raymond free-throws with 7:27 remaining, before sealing the win with a 12-1 run that opened a 20-point lead (64-44) after two more Raymond free-throws with 2:55 left.
• The Skyhawks pulled away despite not scoring a field goal in the last 4:56 by draining 7-of-8 free-throws down the stretch, including its final six attempts.

Noteworthy

• Raymond led Stonehill in scoring in her ninth-straight game played and 13^th time this season overall, scoring in double digits for the 14^th-straight game and 19^th time this season overall (57^th career) with her eighth 20-point game of the year (21^st career).
• Raymond has reached 20-plus points in eight of her last 12 games played, scoring 23 points in both Skyhawks NE10 Tournament wins.
• Raymond's 23 points tonight give her 1,156 points in 67 career games played – good for 25^th place on the program's career scoring list.
• Glidden led Stonehill in rebounding for the second-straight game and fifth time this season as the Skyhawks improved to 8-2 over her career when she does so.
• Kelly posted her eighth double figure scoring output of the season and career.
• The teams combined for just 16 turnovers, but Stonehill made the most of Pace's nine, finishing with a 13-3 advantage in points off.
• Stonehill has now won all three NE10 Tournament matchups with Pace, including the last two at Goldstein Athletic Center, posting a 55-53 semifinal win in 2010 as well.
• Stonehill has reached an NE10 semifinal for the 27^th time in an NE10 record 40 tournament appearances.
• Tonight marked Stonehill's first true road NE10 Tournament game since the quarterfinals in 2016.
• Stonehill has three in a row, six of seven and 10 of 12 dating back to January 30, while posting a 13-4 mark since mid-December after opening the season 2-4.

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