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The Game
Stonehill wraps up s a stretch in which it played five of six at home by hosting Sacred Heart University for a Northeast Conference matchup on Paula Sullivan Court at Merkert Gymnasium this afternoon. The Skyhawks are looking to bounce back from Friday's 56-52 setback to Saint Francis here at Merkert Gym, while the Pioneers opened their NEC slate with a 63-53 win over LIU in Fairfield, Connecticut, on Friday, for their second-straight win.

Media Information
This afternoon's game will be broadcast live via SkyhawksVision on NEC Front Row. Charlie Bergeron (PBP) and Brian Buckley (analyst) have the call of the action for the 24th-straight year. 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
Saint Francis held Stonehill to 26-percent shooting in the second half and turned back a fourth quarter comeback to secure a 56-52 victory in Northeast Conference action at Merkert Gymnasium Friday night. Sophomore Layla Laws came off the bench to lead a balanced Saint Francis effort with 13 points on 5-of-9 shooting, including 2-for-3 from three-point range, with six rebounds and two steals. Her second half triple gave the Red Flash a nine-point cushion (45-36) with 1:20 to play in the third quarter. Fifth-year Emily Bramanti (Chelmsford, Mass.) was the lone double-figure scorer for Stonehill with a game-high 17 points, including 11 in the second half, as she converted 7-of-8 free-throws to go with four rebounds, an assist and blocked shot. Senior Mia Kelly (South Hadley, Mass.) added eight points and a career-high 12 rebounds, while fifth-year Sophie Glidden (Scarborough, Maine) chipped in six points and ten boards with two assists.

Against the Pioneers
This afternoon marks the 19th meeting all-time between these two programs, but the first since a 69-55 Stonehill victory in Fairfield, Conn., on December 1, 1996. The Skyhawks own a 17-1 advantage in the all-time series that dates back to February, 1981, winning the first 13 encounters between the two before Sacred Heart posted its lone series with with a 75-67 overtime triumph at the New England Tip-Off Classic in Lowell, Mass., on November 22, 1992. Stonehill is 9-0 all-time against the Pioneers here at Merkert Gym, notching an 80-74 victory in their last visit on December 16, 1995. Stonehill has won the last four matchups with Sacred Heart and is 9-1 against the Pioneers over the last ten games in the series.

Last Time They Met
This afternoon marks the first meeting between these two programs since a 69-55 Stonehill win in Fairfield, Conn., on December 1, 1996 the season prior to Sacred Heart's transition to NCAA Division I status. Sue Patchett led Stonehill with a double-double performance of 24 points and 14 rebounds, making 6-of-14 shots from the floor and 12-of-13 free-throws. Kim Trudel added 19 points, six boards and three assists. Maureen Delaney led Sacred Heart with 16 points and two steals. Stonehill dominated the glass with a 52-30 rebounding advantage.

Looking Back
Stonehill and Sacred Heart last met on December 1, 1996. What was going on in the world during that time?
• It was also a Sunday.
• #1 Song in the US was "Un-Break My Heart" by Toni Braxton.
• Wayne Gretzky becomes first and only player in NHL history to reach 3,000-point plateau (including playoffs); records an assist in NY Rangers' 6-2 win over Montreal Canadiens at Madison Square Garden.
• March 8: "Fargo" directed and written by Joel and Ethan Coen, starring Frances McDormand, William H. Macy and Steve Buscemi released in the US.
• July 5: Dolly the Sheep, the world´s first cloned mammal from an adult cell, was born.
• July 21: "The Daily Show", hosted by Craig Kilborn premieres on Comedy Central in the US.
• Stonehill head coach Trisha Brown was on Kathy Delaney-Smith's coaching staff at Harvard and posted a 67-63 win over Pepperdine on the second day of the Harvard Invitational on the Crimson's way to a 20-7 record, including a perfect 14-0 mark in the Ivy League to earn an NCAA Tournament bid (at North Carolina).
• I was 22-years old and in my first year in athletic communications at North Florida.

Player of the Week
Fifth-year guard Emily Bramanti (Chelmsford, Mass.) earned Northeast Conference Player of the Week honors for the second time this season on Tuesday. She led Stonehill to a 2-0 week, averaging 22.0 points on 51.9-percent shooting (14-for-27), including 4-for-8 (50%) from three-point distance, while converting 12-of-15 free-throw attempts (80%), with 3.0 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 3.0 steals in 35.8 minutes per game. Bramanti opened the week with 25 points in the Skyhawks 82-71 win over Queens on 7-of-15 shooting, converting 9-of-12 free-throws with four rebounds, five assists and a career-high six steals. She followed that up by scoring all 19 of her points in Monday's NEC debut win at Central Connecticut State in the first half, as the Skyhawks jumped out to as much as a 17-point first half lead, finishing 7-for-12 shooting from the floor, with two rebounds, a season-high six assists and a blocked shot. Bramanti earned NEC Player of the Week honors for the first time on December 12 after averaging 25.5 points on 52.9-percent shooting (18-for-34), including 8-for-15 (53.3%) from three-point range, including a career-high 38 points in a win over Bryant, including 6-for-8 from three-point distance.

Prime Performers
Fifth-year Emily Bramanti (Chelmsford, Mass.) was also named to the Northeast Conference's Prime Performer list for the fifth-straight week on Tuesday, along with classmate Sophie Glidden (Scarborough, Maine). Glidden earns Prime Performer status for the second time this season after averaging 17.5 points on 59.3-percent shooting (16-for-27), with 7.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game over Stonehill's 2-0 week. Glidden scored a career-high 20-points, including eight in the fourth quarter to clinch the win in the Skyhawks NEC debut at Central Connecticut State on Monday, adding five rebounds and two assists, while making 9-of-13 shots from the floor. Bramanti (5 selections) and Glidden (two) are joined in earning multiple NEC Prime Performer selections by senior Mia Kelly (South Hadley, Mass.) who is also a two-time selection, while postgrad Maddie Loder (Independence, Minn.) earned the recognition once 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
Jan. 3: Emily Bramanti & Sophie Glidden

NEC Debut Wins
Stonehill is one of eight women's programs among ten Northeast Conference newcomers since the league was formed as the ECAC-Metro in 1981 to record a win in its NEC debut game after its 73-66 victory at Central Connecticut State on Monday. The Skyhawks join Bryant (2009), Sacred Heart (2000), Quinnipiac (1998), CCSU (1998), Rider (1983), Mount Saint Mary's (1990) and Monmouth (1985) in posting NEC debut wins.

Let's Make it Two!
Stonehill is one of just four NEC newcomers to win their debut games on both the men's and women's side after the Stonehill women notched a 73-66 victory in their Conference opener at Central Connecticut State on Monday, coupled with the men's 74-67 win at Sacred Heart on December 29. Stonehill is the first since Quinnipiac won both openers in 1998, also joining Rider (1992-93) and Monmouth (1985-86).  

Globe Mass Top 10
Stonehill fifth-year guard Emily Bramanti (Chelmsford, Mass.) was recognized by the Boston Globe on Tuesday as one of the top ten players among the nine NCAA Division I men's basketball programs in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Bramanti was ranked No. 6 by Globe columnist Ethan Fuller. Sam Breen of UMass leads the list that also includes Harvard's Harmoni Tuner (No. 2), Sydney Taylor of UMass (No. 3), Dontavia Waggoner of Boston College (No. 4), Boston University's Caitlin Weimar (No. 5), Taina Mair of BC (No. 7), Northeastern's Derin Erdogan (No. 8), Bronagh Power-Cassidy of Holy Cross (No. 9) and Marissa Hamilton from Merrimack (No. 10).

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.

Sunshine Daydream
Stonehill has posted a 4-2 record in its six afternoon tip-offs this season after Monday's NEC opening win at Central Connecticut State, compared to a 1-8 mark in its games starting at 6 p.m., or later.

Everybody is Working For the Weekend
Stonehill has split its four weekend games this season, posting a 1-1 record on both Saturdays and Sundays after its 81-74 win at Bryant on December 11. The Skyhawks have won their last two weekend dates, with road wins at New Hampshire (Saturday, Dec. 3) and Bryant.

Guard on the Glass
Senior Mia Kelly (South Hadley, Mass.) has recorded the first two double-figure rebounding games of her career over Stonehill's last three games, including a career-high 12 boards against Saint Francis on Friday night. She has moved into 11th among NEC rebounding leaders with 5.1 rebounds per game - good for second on the team. Her 4.1 defensive rebounds per game are good for seventh in the NEC. Kelly shares the team lead with 8.0 rebounds per game in the Skyhawks two NEC games, and is second on the team with her 6.3 boards per game in Stonehill's six home games.

Stepping Up
Freshman Melissa Whitmore (Hanover, N.H.) saw action for the first time since November 27 (vs. Oakland) in Friday night's NEC matchup with Saint Francis. She played a season-high 21 minutes off the Stonehill bench and posted career-bests with eight points, four rebounds and two blocked shots.  

It Makes 'Cents
Stonehill has won all five of its games this season in which it has shot a higher field goal percentage than it's opponents, compared to an 0-10 record when it does not.

A Fine Nine
Stonehill fifth-year Emily Bramanti (Chelmsford, Mass.) has scored in double-figures in nine straight games after scoring a game-high 17 points against Saint Francis on Friday night. She is averaging 19.3 points on 50-percent shooting (58-for-116) during that span, including a red-hot 53.1% (26-49) from three-point distance. She is also contributing 3.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.1 steals per game during this stretch.

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 hits the road for five of its next six games, including next Saturday at Merrimack College for an NEC matchup at 3 p.m. The Skyhawks next home game is Saturday, January 21, when they host LIU here at Merkert Gym at 2 p.m.