MANCHESTER, N.H. – Freshman Brooke Springfield (Jaffrey, N.H.) led a balanced Southern New Hampshire University attack with a season-high 12 points as the Penmen defeated Merrimack College 74-63 in Northeast-10 women's basketball Saturday afternoon at the SNHU Fieldhouse.  SNHU improved to 7-2 and 5-2 in the NE-10, while the Warriors are 2-7 and 1-6 in the league.

Springfield totaled 10 of her points in the first half, going 4-7 from the floor while making all three of her free throw attempts for the game.  Christine Duffy (South Boston, Mass.) (pictured) finished with 11 points and six assists, while Victoria Wiseman (Montreal, Quebec) added nine points.  Michelle DeRoma (South Boston, Mass.), Megan Spanarkel (Tinton Falls, N.J.) and Lorreta Rocha (Espargos, Cape Verde) all contributed eight points apiece.

Chloe Rothman led Merrimack with 19 points, while Kelly Schatzlein totaled 15 points while grabbing 15 rebounds.

SNHU never trailed in the game and used an 8-0 run  capped by a three by Springfield with 6:47 left before halftime to go up 20-8.  The Penmen led by 13 twice in the first half, the latest at 33-20 with 2:11 to go on a pair of free throws by Spanarkel, and took a 35-25 lead into the break.

Merrimack would get the lead down to nine, 47-38, on a three by Katie Ganser with 12:43 remaining, but from there the Penmen took control, using a 13-4 run capped by a conventional three-point play by Duffy with 8:45 left that made it 60-42.  Southern New Hampshire took its largest lead, 72-48, with just over two minutes remaining on a pair of free throws by Spanarkel.

Southern New Hampshire shot 49.1% for the game (26-53) and made three of its four three-point attempts.  The Penmen took 10 more trips to the free throw line, going 19-25, while Merrimack was 8-15 at the stripe.  The Warriors outrebounded SNHU 36-27, but the hosts turned 25 Merrimack turnovers into 28 points.

Southern New Hampshire plays the first of four straight non-conference contests on Wednesday night when it travels to Georgian Court University for a 6:00 game.