Austin's 18-points, including late free-throws lifts Sharks
Sampson posted career-highs with 18 points and eight rebounds to lead the Skyhawks in today's NEC opener (PHOTO BY Jennifer Raider) |
BROOKLYN, N.Y. (January 6, 2024) – Long Island University held off Stonehill College down the stretch to secure a 54-52 triumph in a back-and-forth battle in the Northeast Conference women's basketball opener for both inside the Steinberg Wellness Center this afternoon.
Senior Ashley Austin led LIU with 18 points, including three clutch free-throws in the final 72-seconds, adding seven assists, five steals and two rebounds. Sophomore Mariah Elohim added 14 points on 6-of-15 shooting, including ten in the first half, and three rebounds, while junior Nigeria Harkless rounded out the Sharks double-figure scorers with 11 points off the bench and three boards.
Postgraduate transfer Lauren Sampson paced Stonehill in just her second game back from injury after transferring from Providence College with a career-high 18 points, including eight in the fourth quarter to lead the Skyhawks comeback from ten points behind late in the third quarter, and eight rebounds. Freshman Brooke Paquette, the reigning NEC Rookie of the Week, scored in double-figures for the second-straight game and filled the boxscore with 11 points, including nine after halftime, and season-highs of seven rebounds, six assists and four steals. Junior Maureen Stapleton grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds for the Skyhawks and dished out four assists with four points, while senior Cameron Ward chipped in seven points and three boards.
Stonehill grabbed an early seven point advantage (11-4), sparked by five-straight points from Sampson, after a Ward layup with two-minutes left in the first quarter. LIU scored the final five points of the frame, including an Austin three-pointer, to pull within two (11-9) heading to the second.
Paquette scored in double-figures for the second-straight game and notched season-bests with seven rebounds, six assists and four steals (PHOTO BY Brian Foley) |
A three-pointer from junior Sharn Hayward and floater by senior Jada Thornton answered an opening basket by LIU for a five-point Stonehill lead (16-11) less than two minutes into the second quarter. The Skyhawks lead was still five (21-16) after a second Hayward three-pointer midway through the second when LIU reeled off seven-straight to take its first lead of the afternoon (23-21) after an Austin triple with three-minutes to play before halftime. Sampson followed with a three to push Stonehill back in front, but the Sharks grabbed the halftime lead (25-24) on a layup by junior Emaia O'Brien off a turnover at the buzzer.
Stonehill regained the lead (28-26) with a Sampson second-chance layup three-minutes into the second half, but LIU scored the next eight points to grab a six-point cushion (34-28) on a fastbreak layup from sophomore Dia Denes with 3:42 left in the third quarter. The Sharks stretched their lead to a game-high ten points (40-30) after another fastbreak layup by O'Brien with 1:33 to play in the third.
Stapleton provided a spark for Stonehill as it headed into the fourth with a second-chance basket to cap the third quarter and then Paquette scored the Skyhawks first six points of the final frame with a three-point play and three-pointer to draw within four (42-38) with 8:14 still to play. Sampson extended the Stonehill run to 12-2 with a fastbreak layup to pull the Skyhawks within a possession (42-40) with 6:48 remaining. Sampson later scored four-straight for Stonehill to knot the score (46-46) with 3:42 to play and then Ward pushed the Skyhawks in front (49-46) with a three-point play a minute later.
Austin answered for LIU with the next three-points, splitting two free-throws after an intentional foul with 72-seconds on the clock. Harkness pushed the Sharks in front (51-49) with a second-chance layup of their own with 50-seconds to play. Paquette split two free-throws with 35-seconds on the clock and then Austin gave LIU a three-point lead with two free-throws with 16-seconds remaining. Stonehill was unable to get a three-pointer to fall at the other end and sophomore Kayla Tilus split two free-throws with 1.3-seconds to go for a four-point cushion (54-50) that was enough cover for a final layup by Sampson at the other end and seal the win.
Noteworthy
- Sampson posted her first double-figure scoring game for Stonehill in just her second in the Skyhawks uniform, having reached double-digits five times at Providence.
- Sampson's 18 points matches Stonehill's season-high scoring total set by Hayward at Niagara on November 19.
- Paquette's 11 points gives her double-figures for the fourth time in her freshman season.
- Stapleton has led Stonehill in rebounding in 13 of its 14 games this season (16 career) pulling down double-digit rebounds for the third-straight game and fifth time this season overall (eight career).
- Stonehill held a 43-33 rebounding advantage in the contest, pulling down 13 offensive rebounds that played a key stat in its second-half comeback effort with a 13-9 edge in second-chance points.
- LIU's 15-7 margin in points off turnovers was key for the Sharks, taking advantage of the Skyhawks 21 turnovers, while committing just 13 themselves.
- The game featured seven ties and seven lead changes, with Stonehill holding the lead for 16:37 for the afternoon, and LIU for 15:41.
Up Next
Stonehill (0-14, 0-1 NEC) is right back in action on Monday afternoon when it wraps up NEC opening weekend at Central Connecticut State University at 4 p.m. The Skyhawks return to Merkert Gymnasium next Saturday, January 13, to host FDU for their NEC home opener at 2 p.m. LIU (2-10, 1-0 NEC) visits Wagner College on Monday at 7 p.m.
Tickets for home Stonehill basketball games can be purchased in advance online at stonehillskyhawks.com/tickets.
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.
