Penguin, Tasmania, junior buries school-record 11 three-pointers for career-high 33 points as Skyhawks win second-straight
Hayward drained a school-record 11 three-pointers to lead a school-record matching 17 threes overall for a career-best 33 points this afternoon (PHOTO BY Bob Blanchard) |
EASTON, Mass. (January 15, 2024) – Junior guard Sharn Hayward drained a school-record 11 three-pointers to lead a program-record matching barrage of 17-three-point field goals for Stonehill College overall on its way to a 67-44 triumph over Wagner College in a Northeast Conference women's basketball matchup on Paula Sullivan Court at Merkert Gymnasium this afternoon.
Hayward finished 11-for-15 from three-point range in her record-setting afternoon to score a career-high 33 points, including 21 in the second half on 7-of-9 shooting from deep, with three assists and two rebounds in playing all 40-minutes of the contest as Stonehill won its second-straight game. The 11 three-pointers match the NEC record set by Saint Francis University's Jessica Kovatch against FDU in 2018 and matches the single-game high in women's college basketball this season set by Tess Myers of Duquesne University against Longwood University on one more attempt on December 14. It is tied for the third-highest total in college basketball this year regardless of gender and just three shy of the Division I women's record of 14 by Juicy Landrum of Baylor University (23 attempts) in 2019.
Hayward connected on her first four three-pointers in the contest on her way to 12 first half points on 4-for-6 shooting from three in the half overall. Her 11 threes today are more than the ten she made in 20 games as a freshman and nearly half of her season-total (24) last year. Hayward led a season-best 17-for-32 (53.1%) three-point shooting effort on the day for Stonehill, matching the program record for the third time in its history as five players combined to hit as many three-pointers as Wagner had field goals in the contest overall (17-for-47) and finish just one shy of the NEC single-game mark. Hayward's 11 threes bested the Skyhawks previous season-high as a team (10) at Central Connecticut State University last week on her own.
Sampson added 13 points for her fourth-straight double-figure scoring game for the Skyhawks (PHOTO BY Jennifer Raider) |
Postgrad Lauren Sampson reached double-figures for the fourth-straight game with 13 points on 6-of-12 shooting, three rebounds, two assists and a steal. Senior Cameron Ward chipped in seven points, four rebounds, two assists and a steal, while junior Maureen Stapleton pulled down a game-high nine rebounds and dished a game-best four assists for the Skyhawks who enjoyed a 31-26 rebounding edge and collected assists on 17-of-24 field goals in the game.
Junior Semie Brar scored a team-high 14 points for Wagner, with three steals, while freshman Kiera Edmonds led the Seahawks with 12 points and seven rebounds (four offensive).
Despite connecting on 4-of-6 three-pointers in the opening quarter, including 3-for-3 from Hayward, Wagner held a three-point edge (15-12) after ten minutes by shooting 7-for-15 (46.7%), outscoring Stonehill 10-0 in the paint and taking advantage of eight Skyhawk turnovers in the frame. Stonehill opened the second quarter with an 11-2 run to grab a six-point lead (23-17) after a three-pointer from Sampson with 6:50 left in the first half. Wagner closed back within two (25-23) after a layup by junior Paige Lyons with 3:13 remaining in the half, but Stonehill held the halftime lead (30-26) for just the second time this season.
Hayward buried back-to-back three-pointers to extend the Stonehill lead to ten (36-26) 1:16 into the second half. Wagner scored the next five points over the following two minutes to trim the lead to five (36-31), but the Skyhawks scored the final ten points of the quarter, including two more Hayward threes, to begin to pull away.
Stonehill carried a 15-point lead (46-31) into the fourth quarter and did not look back. Hayward opened the frame with her ninth three-pointer of the afternoon and the Skyhawks lead reached 25 (61-36) as Sampson capped a 15-5 run with a jumper midway through the quarter. Hayward's 11th three of the contest produced a game-high 27-point margin with under two minutes remaining.
Noteworthy
- Hayward led Stonehill in scoring for the second-straight game, and fourth time this season overall, scoring in double-figures for the second-straight game.
- Hayward's 33 points are the most for a Stonehill player this season since former teammate Emily Bramanti, '23 scored 38 at Bryant University last season, to finish a point shy of the program record, and the first 20-plus point game by any current Skyhawk.
- Stonehill is 2-2 this season with Hayward as its leading scorer.
- Stonehill drained a school-record 17 three-pointers for the third time in program history – its highest total at the Division I level.
- Sampson has scored in double-figures in four of the five games she has played at Stonehill since returning from injury and transferring from Providence.
- Stapleton led the Skyhawks in rebounding for the 14th time in 17 games this season and assists for the eighth time.
- Stonehill has won both games against Wagner at Merkert Gym over its first two years in the NEC.
Up Next
Stonehill (2-15, 2-2 NEC) returns to action on Friday, when it visits FDU for an NEC matchup in New Jersey at 7 p.m. The Skyhawks return home to host Merrimack College next Sunday, January 15, at 2 p.m. Wagner (4-11, 1-2 NEC) hosts Merrimack on Friday at noon.
Tickets for home Stonehill basketball games can be purchased in advance online at stonehillskyhawks.com/tickets.
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