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The Game
History will be made this afternoon as Stonehill College makes its Northeast Conference debut against Central Connecticut State University in the NEC opener for both at Detrick Gymnasium. The Skyhawks are looking to build off a split of its six December contests following an 82-71 victory over Queens (N.Y.) College in its non-conference finale at Merkert Gymnasium on Thursday. The Blue Devils head into their NEC opener following a ten-day layoff after an 86-35 setback at Boston College on December 22.

Media Information
Today's game will be broadcast live via NEC Front Row. Jimmie Clark has the call of the the game for Central Connecticut State. The broadcast can be accessed via stonehillskyhawks.com through its NEC Front Row portal (necfrontrow.com/schools/SC) or through Apple TV, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV and Roku via the NEC On the Run App.

Last Time Out
Stonehill wrapped up its non-conference schedule on a winning note, securing an 82-71 triumph over Queens at Merkert Gymnasium on Thursday. Fifth-year guard Emily Bramanti (Chelmsford, Mass.) posted her seventh-straight double-figure scoring game, reaching 20-plus points for the second time, with a game-high 25 points on 7-of-15 shooting, converting 9-of-12 free-throws as she drew eight fouls, to go with four rebounds, a season-high matching five assist and career-best six steals. Fifth-year Sophie Glidden (Scarborough, Maine) added 15 points on 7-of-14 shooting, with nine rebounds and four assists, while junior Cameron Ward (Bound Brook, N.J.) scored ten of her career-high 14 points in the opening quarter to lead Stonehill to an early double-digit lead. A back and forth opening four minutes saw Queens hold the lead (7-4) after a three-pointer. Stonehill responded with seven straight points to grab the lead (11-7) after a Glidden layup. The Skyhawks wouldn't trail again, stretching their lead to 11 (24-13) heading into the second quarter, with Ward scoring ten of the hosts 24 first quarter points after finishing the frame with two free-throws. Stonehill used a 14-2 run to open an 18-point cushion (40-22) after a Bramanti three-pointer with 4:40 left in the half. Queens made a run, drawing within nine (61-52) on a Jennah DeGout layup with 1:46 remaining, but Stonehill was able to carry a 15-point lead (67-52) into the final quarter. The Knights wouldn't go down quietly, drawing within seven (72-65) with 4:32 to play, but could get no closer as the Skyhawks made their next ten free-throws, including six by Bramanti to seal the win.

Against the Blue Devils
This afternoon marks fourth meeting all-time between the two programs, but the first since a 106-74 Stonehill victory at Merkert Gymnasium in Easton, Mass., on November 23, 1983. Stonehill has won each of the previous three encounters with Central Connecticut State in a series that dates back to the 1981-82 season prior to the Blue Devils elevation to Division I status in 1986. Stonehill is 1-0 all-time against CCSU in New Britain, winning the lone visit during the 1982-83 season.

MaryAnne Walsh '85

Last Time They Met
Stonehill rolled to a 106-74 victory over Central Connecticut State the last time they met on November 23, 1983 at Merkert Gymnasium in Easton. MaryAnne Walsh led Stonehill with a game-high 26 points on 10-of-11 shooting, with four rebounds, four assists and a steal, while Penny Bronsdan added 20 points on 9-of-13 shooting, with nine rebounds, five assists and two steals as five finished in double-figures in all for the hosts. Chris Donovan notched a double-double of 11 points and 15 assists for Stonehill. Sethe Thompson led Central Connecticut with 19 points on 8-of-19 shooting, three rebounds, five assists and two steals, while Sandy Peay totaled 16 points, nine rebounds (six offensive), three assists and a blocked shot. Stonehill jumped out to a 58-37 halftime lead behind 60% shooting in the half (25-42), before finishing at 56.3%.

Take a Look Back
Stonehill and Central Connecticut State are playing for the first time since November 23, 1983. Here's what was going on in the world during that time:
• It was a Wednesday.
• #1 Song in the US was All Night Long (All Night) by Lionel Richie.
• #1 Song in Great Britain was Uptown Girl by Billy Joel.
• Actress Mary Tyler Moore weds Dr. Robert Levine in New York City.
• USSR leaves weapon disarmament talks.
• February 28: Final of "M*A*S*H", titled "Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen", airs on CBS with a record 125 million watching in the US.
• Head Coach Trisha Brown was a freshman at Harvard, and the Crimson had lost at Assumption (75-71) the night prior (11/22) in their season opener.
• I was nine years old.

Stonehill Ties
Central Connecticut State director of athletics Tom Pincince is a 1997 Stonehill graduate, where he was a four-year letterwinner on the football program. The former Stonehill quarterback still ranks among several single-season and career passing lists during his time in Easton. Pincince was named AD at CCSU last January after three years in an interim capacity. He is currently in his 21st year at the University overall.

For Openers
Stonehill is 11-7 in Conference openers dating back through the start of the 2003-04 season. The Skyhawks dropped three of its last four Northeast-10 openers prior to elevating to Division I status this season, having lost three-straight Conference openers on the road. Stonehill is 5-5 in its last ten Conference openers.

Debut Games
Stonehill last made a Conference debut during the first year the Northeast-10 Conference sponsored women's basketball in 1981-82. Stonehill opened Conference play that year with a 70-42 win over Saint Michael's College.

Preseason Prognostications
Stonehill was picked to finish ninth in its first Northeast Conference season by the league's head coaches. Wagner received six first place votes to top the preseason rankings, followed by Fairleigh Dickenson with two first place votes. St. Francis Brooklyn is picked third, while Saint Francis (Pa.) is fourth with the remaining first place vote.  

Bright Television Lights
The Northeast Conference announced that Stonehill's February 9 matchup with former NE10 rival Merrimack College will be broadcast live on ESPN+ through the NEC's 26-game television package. The matchup at Merkert Gym is among 21 games that will be featured on ESPN networks, including a record 13 women's games. Paul Dottino (24th year) and Craig D'Amico (14th year) will once split play-by-play duties on women's telecasts. Pam Roecker is back for her 21st year as color analyst. Pack Network and Northeast Sports Network (NSN) will handle production duties for the league's ESPN3/ESPN+ package.

Kelly

Bramanti

Prime Performers
Fifth-year Emily Bramanti (Chelmsford, Mass.) and senior Mia Kelly (South Hadley, Mass.) were both named to the Northeast Conference's Prime Performer list on Monday for their efforts in Stonehill's lone game of the week against Northeastern University last Tuesday. Bramanti earns the recognition for the fourth-straight week after scoring in double figures for the sixth-straight game with 19 points on 5-of-7 shooting from three-point range, four assists and three rebounds. Kelly earns her second selection after posting Stonehill's second 20-plus point game of the season with a season-high 20 points, six rebounds, two assists, one block and a steal, going 7-of-10 from the field, 3-of-5 from long range and 3-for-4 from the free throw line. Bramanti and Kelly are the only two Skyhawks with multiple NEC Prime Performers so far this season, with Bramanti leading the team with four to go with Kelly's pair. Postgrad Maddie Loder (Independence, Minn.) earned the recognition after the opening week of the season, while fifth-year Sophie Glidden (Scarborough, Maine) rounds out the Skyhawks with the honors to this point.
NEC Prime Performers:
Nov. 14: Maddie Loder
Nov. 28: Sophie Glidden
Dec. 5: Emily Bramanti & Mia Kelly
Dec. 12: Emily Bramanti
Dec. 19: Emily Bramanti
Dec. 26: Emily Bramanti & Mia Kelly

Sunshine Daydream
Stonehill has posted a 3-2 record in its five afternoon tip-offs this season after Thursday's 82-71 win over Queens in Easton, compared to a 1-7 mark in its games starting at 6 p.m., or later.

Seventh Heaven
Stonehill fifth-year Emily Bramanti (Chelmsford, Mass.) has scored in double-figures in seven straight games after posting her second 20-plus scoring outing of the year with her game-high 25 points against Queens on Thursday. She is averaging 19.7 points on 49.5-percent shooting (46-for-93) during that span, including a white-hot 55.8% (24-43) from three-point distance. She is also contributing 3.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.4 steals per game during this stretch.

My December
Stonehill split its six games in the month of December after posting an 82-71 victory over Queens (N.Y.) on Thursday, following a 1-6 trip through November in its first Division I month. The Skyhawks scored 15 points per game more in December (65.3ppg vs. 50.4 in Nov.), while shooting 41.6-percent as a team, compared to 35.3% in November. Stonehill has made big strides from the three-point arc as well, connecting on 38.5% (45-for-117) compared to 26.5% (35-132) last month. Fifth-year Emily Bramanti (Chelmsford, Mass.) has been a key as well, averaging 21.0 points this month on 47.7% shooting (55% threes), after just 8.4 points on 33.8% shooting (25.7% threes) in November. Senior Mia Kelly (South Hadley, Mass.) is adding 10.0 points on 46.5% shooting this month, compared to 6.3 points on 29.8% shooting in November.

Doubles Quad
Stonehill featured four players scoring in double figures for the first time this season against Queens on Thursday. Fifth-year Emily Bramanti's (Chelmsford, Mass.) game-high 25 points were followed by 15 points from fifth-year Sophie Glidden (Scarborough, Maine), a career-high 14 points from junior Cameron Ward (Bound Brook, N.J.) and ten points from postgrad Maddie Loder (Independance, Minn.). The Skyhawks are 3-3 this season with three-plus double-figure scorers.

High Score - Part 2
Stonehill scored a season-high 82 points in Thursday's win over Queens (N.Y.), matching the NEC high set by Fairleigh Dickenson against Maryland Eastern Shore on November 27. The Skyhawks surpassed its previous best of 81 points in the win at Bryant on December 11 and also posted the highest shooting percentage (.510) in the NEC this season, bettering its 50.9-percent shooting in the Bryant win among Conference high's this season.

Stop!... Thief!
Fifth-year guard Emily Bramanti (Chelmsford, Mass.) registered a career-high six steals in Stonehill's win over Queens (N.Y.) on Thursday as the Skyhawks finished with a season-high nine thefts on the Knights' 17 turnovers. Bramanti's six steals are second only in the NEC this season to seven by Sacred Heart's Ny'Ceara Pryor against LaSalle on November 10. Bramanti doubled her season steal total with the six on Thursday, giving her a team-high 12 in 13 games this season.

Guard on the Glass
Senior guard Mia Kelly (South Hadley, Mass.) recorded the sixth double-figure rebound game for Stonehill this season with her career-high ten boards against Queens (N.Y.) on Thursday. Her team-high effort led the Skyhawks to a 32-26 rebounding edge, marking the sixth game the Skyhawks have outrebounded their opponent this year.

It's the Cam-Quarter
Junior Cameron Ward (Bound Brook, N.J.) scored ten of her career-high 14 points in the first quarter in Thursday's win over Queens (N.Y.). Ward set her career-best in the first quarter alone, as her ten points in the opening frame enabled the Skyhawks to jump out to an 11-point (24-13) cushion that would prove to be the final margin of victory. She made all four of her shots from the floor in the quarter, while making both free-throw attempts.

Line Item
Stonehill made a season-high 24 free-throws in Thursday's 82-71 win over Queens (N.Y.), which is second only in the NEC this season to the 29 made by Central Connecticut State against Hartford on December 18. The Skyhawks made 24-of-31 free-throw attempts (77.4%) on Thursday, with all 15 of their fourth quarter points coming at the line (on 18 attempts) as Stonehill held off the Knights down the stretch. It marks the first time the Skyhawks have made 20-plus free-throws since draining 21-of-25 at Pace on February 10, 2022 and marks the third-straight season the team has recorded at least one game with 20-plus free-throws.

Into Double-Figures
Fifth-year guard Emily Bramanti (Chelmsford, Mass.) ranks fifth on the NEC's scoring chart, averaging a team-high 14.2 points per game as the lone Skyhawk scoring in double-figures. She ranks eighth in the NEC with her .417 shooting percentage, including 41.3% (31-for-75) from three to rank second in the Conference, with a league-best 2.4 three-pointers per game.

Offense Improving
Stonehill has won four of its last nine games, showing offensive improvement highlighted by a pair of 80-point games in wins at Bryant (81 points) and against Queens (82 points). Thursday's season-best 82 points against Queens matches the season-high in the NEC this year, along with an FDU effort against Maryland Eastern Shore (11/27), while the Skyhawks 81 points at Bryant is tied for the third-highest point total in the Conference this season. The Skyhawks are shooting 42.1-percent from the field over the last seven games, averaging 64.4 points per game in that span. The Skyhawks have connected on 39.4% (50-for-127) of their three-pointers during this stretch.

Movin' On Up
Stonehill has moved into second in the NEC for field goal percentage, shooting 38.3-percent from the field after 13 non-conference games, also ranking second in three-point percentage (.321) as one of three in the Conference shooting over 30-percent from long distance. The Skyhawks are also up to third in the NEC for scoring offense at 57.3 points per game.

In Transition
Stonehill announced it had accepted an invitation to join the Northeast Conference and commence a four-year transition to full NCAA Division I membership on April 5. The Skyhawks started their four-year transition on July 1 and will earn full NCAA Division I membership in 2026-27. At the June NEC meetings, the Conference presidents announced a shift in the waiting period for automatic qualifier sports from competing for NEC postseason championships from four to two years, making Stonehill eligible to compete in the NEC postseason starting in 2024-25.

Getting Social
Fans and media members of Stonehill athletics have multiple social media outlets to get updates on all 21 varsity programs. The department's Facebook page is www.facebook.com/stonehillskyhawks, and you can also follow @GoStonehill on Twitter and @stonehillskyhawks via Instagram!  Stonehill women's basketball is also on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/StonehillCollegeWomensBasketball, Twitter and Instagram by following @stonehillwbb. You can even follow head coach Trisha Brown on Twitter via @CoachTB_SC.

Up Next
Stonehill is right back in action on Friday when it hosts Saint Francis (Pa.) University for a Northeast Conference matchup at Merkert Gym at 6 p.m.