Kenefick leads Blue Devils to NEC win with 16 points, 8 rebounds

Thornton posted career-highs with 18 points and nine rebounds to lead the Skyhawks this afternoon (PHOTO BY Brian Foley)

NEW BRITAIN, Conn. (January 8, 2024) – Central Connecticut State University rode four players in double-figures in securing a 71-59 victory over Stonehill College in a Northeast Conference women's basketball matchup at Detrick Gymnasium this afternoon.

Senior Meghan Kenefick led four from CCSU in double-figures with 16 points on 7-of-16 shooting, eight rebounds and two assists. Sophomore Ally Sentance added 14 points, including 12 in the first half, on 6-of-12 shooting, with five rebounds, three assists and a steal, while senior Belle Lanpher filled out the box score with 12 points, six boards (four offensive) and five assists.

Junior Amaya Williams rounded out the Blue Devils in double-figures with 12 points and three steals, while sophomore Samora Watson nearly notched a double-double with nine points, nine boards (five offensive) and six assists as CCSU rode a 45-31 rebounding advantage, including 16 offensive boards for an 11-5 edge in second chance points, in notching its first win over Stonehill in six meetings all-time dating back to 1981-82.

Senior Jada Thornton led the way for Stonehill with career-highs of 18 points, including 11 after halftime, and nine rebounds, shooting 7-for-13 from the floor, with a steal. Freshman Brooke Paquette added a season-high 15 points, connecting on 3-of-8 three-pointers, with three rebounds, while postgrad Lauren Sampson scored 11 of her 15 points in the second half to go with four rebounds, a career-best four steals and two assists off the bench. Junior Sharn Hayward aided in the Skyhawks season-high ten three-pointers in the game by connecting on 3-of-6 from deep for nine points and a team-best four assists.

Paquette added a season-high 15 points to reach double-figures for the third-straight game (PHOTO BY Brian Foley)

Stonehill scored six-straight on a Paquette three-pointer and Thornton three-point play to reverse a three-point deficit and grab the lead (12-9) with 2:38 to play in the first quarter. Sophomore Alonna Sellers scored the final four points of the frame to send Central Connecticut State into the second quarter with a one-point edge (13-12).

CCSU extended the run to 10-2, sparked by a Lanpher three-pointer, to stretch its lead to five (19-14) two and a half minutes into the second quarter. Stonehill followed with another 6-0 run on consecutive three-pointers from Sampson and Hayward to reclaim the lead (20-19) with 5:41 to play in the first half, but Sentance drilled a three that ignited a 16-3 Blue Devils run as the hosts scored the final 13 points of the quarter to carry a 12-point cushion (35-23) into halftime.

Stonehill made a push in the third quarter, using a 10-2 run capped by back-to-back threes from Hayward and Sampson to pull back within five (44-39) with four minutes remaining in the frame. CCSU held, however, and scored the last six points of the quarter to take an 11-point lead (50-39) into the fourth.

A three-pointer from Hayward and a Thornton layup had Stonehill back within eight twice in the opening half of the fourth quarter, but CCSU was able to keep the Skyhawks at arm's length. Sampson hit a three to pull Stonehill within seven (66-59) in the final minute, but the Blue Devils sealed the NEC opening win by converting 5-of-6 free-throws from there.           

Noteworthy

• Thornton's 18 points matches Stonehill's season-high set by Hayward at Niagara on November 19 and Sampson at LIU on Saturday, finishing just a rebound shy of notching Stonehill's first double-double of the season with her career-best rebounding total to lead the Skyhawks on the glass for the second time in her career.
• Sampson, who scored career-high 18 at LIU on Saturday reached double-figures for the second-straight game after making her Stonehill debut against Fairfield on December 30.
• Paquette, the reigning NEC Rookie of the Week, has scored in double-figures in three-straight and five games overall after her season-high 15 today.
• Stonehill drained a season-high ten three-pointers, led by a career-high four from Sampson, finishing 10-for-29 (34.5%) from beyond the arc, including 7-for-16 (43.8%) in the second half.
• CCSU notched its first win in six meetings all-time against Stonehill dating back to the 1981-82 season, with Stonehill now 2-1 all-time at Detrick Gym.

Up Next
Stonehill (0-15, 0-2 NEC) returns to Merkert Gymnasium on Saturday when it opens its NEC home slate against FDU at 2 p.m. Central Connecticut State (3-11, 1-0 NEC) hosts Saint Francis University on Saturday at 1 p.m.

Tickets for home Stonehill basketball games can be purchased in advance online at stonehillskyhawks.com/tickets.

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