Box Score MANCHESTER, N.H. – Junior Michelle DeRoma (West Roxbury, Mass.) totaled a career-best 21 points, connecting on 5-of-9 three-pointers, to lead the Southern New Hampshire University women's basketball team to a 61-52 win over New York Institute of Technology Friday afternoon at the SNHU Fieldhouse. The game marked the season opener for both schools.
DeRoma, who recorded her 100th career three-pointer with her effort, was 6-12 from the field to lead three Penmen in double figures. Christine Duffy (South Boston, Mass.) finished with 15 points, nine rebounds and five assists, while Sloane Sorrell (Berwick, Maine) added 11 points and nine boards. Megan Smith (Smithfield, Maine) contributed six points while grabbing eight rebounds.
Cierra Baker paced the Bears with 17 points and 12 rebounds, while Rebecca Lynch added 15 points and five boards.
SNHU, which led 26-24 at halftime and trailed 32-31 five minutes into the second half, used an 11-0 run capped by a DeRoma three with 10:59 remaining in the contest to open up a 42-32 lead. NYIT would chip away at the lead and a Demitra Apergis basket with just over six minutes remaining pulled the Bears within three, 47-44.
NYIT would again pull within three, 54-51, with 1:34 left on a Baker free throw, but the Penmen would seal with win by going 5-5 at the free throw line over the final 1:07.
The Penmen opened up a 16-8 lead nine minutes into the game following a three by DeRoma, but NYIT went on a 12-0 run to take a 20-16 lead with 5:36 left on a Rebecca Lynch layup. The two teams would trade the lead five times the rest of the half and SNHU took a 26-24 lead into the locker room.
Southern New Hampshire outrebounded NYIT 42-38 and went 19-30 at the charity stripe while the Bears were 10-21. The Penmen connected on six of their 16 three point attempts, while NYIT was 0-9 behind the arc.
SNHU returns to action Saturday when it hosts Mercy College in a 3:00 contest at the SNHU Fieldhouse.
