BOX SCORE

WALTHAM, Mass. - Stephanie Houghton (Manchester, NH) led five Southern New Hampshire University players in double figures with 17 points as the Penmen posted a 73-59 women's basketball victory over the University of Bridgeport in second round action of the Park Lodge Hotel Group Classic Tuesday night at the Dana Center.  SNHU, which won its fifth in a row, improves to 7-4 on the season, while the Purple Knights are now 1-8 on the season.

SNHU's five-game win streak is its longest since winning six in a row during the 1989-90 season.

Houghton drained four of her six three-point attempts and also grabbed six rebounds.  Brooke Lefort (Cumberland, RI) registered a double-double, scoring a season-high 13 points on 5-8 shooting while also grabbing 10 rebounds.  Jenny McDade (Derry, NH) reached double figures for the third straight game with 13 points, while Alyssa Whitney (Somerville, MA) and Christine Duffy (South Boston, MA) each registered 10 points while handing out four assists.

Shannon Malone led Bridgeport with a double-double, scoring a game-high 19 points to go along with 10 rebounds.  Julia Busalt totaled 13 points and Siobhan Moore added 11 for the Purple Knights.

Southern New Hampshire took control of what had been a close game over the final eight minutes of the first half, going on a 22-6 run capped by a basket by Julia Houghtaling (Franconia, NH) with 1:22 before intermission that game the Penmen a 37-22 lead.  Houghton would score just before the final horn to give the Penmen a 39-24 lead at halftime.

Bridgeport used a 9-1 run capped by a conventional three-point play by Moore at the 13:17 mark to draw within five, 48-43, and got within four points twice, the last coming on Malone's layup with 6:29 to play that made it 62-58.  However, the Penmen would hold the Purple Knights without a field goal the rest of the way as SNHU closed out the game on a 11-1 run.  Bridgeport misfired on its final eight field goal attempts, with its only points coming on a Malone free throw with 2:17 to play.

Southern New Hampshire finished the game shooting 50% from the floor, including a 13-25 effort over the final 20 minutes, while also connecting on eight of its 16 three-point attempts.  The Penmen held Bridgeport to 34.4% shooting for the game while also outrebounding the Purple Knights 40-33. 

SNHU returns to Northeast-10 Conference play Saturday when it travels to Le Moyne College for a 1:00 contest.

NOTES: SNHU finished 5-0 in non-conference play this season...the Penmen's 7-4 mark is the best after 11 games since starting 8-3 in 1989-90...Houghton, with 120 career three-pointers, sits one shy on third place on SNHU's career list, held by Colleen Quinn and Jen Ryan.