LAKEWOOD, N.J. – Megan Smith (Smithfield, Maine) totaled 14 points as Southern New Hampshire University pulled out a 61-53 women's basketball victory over upset-minded Georgian Court University at the GCU Wellness Center Wednesday night.  The Penmen improved to 8-2, while the Lions are now 1-8 on the season.

Smith finished 7-13 from the floor and led three Penmen players in double figures.  Lorreta Rocha (Espargos, Cape Verde) (pictured) finished with 12 points on 6-8 shooting, while Michelle DeRoma (West Roxbury, Mass.) was 5-9 from the field and also notched 12 points while grabbing seven rebounds.  Christine Duffy (South Boston, Mass.) handed out nine assists while committing just one turnover while also adding seven points.

Tahira Matthews paced Georgian Court with 13 points on 6-9 shooting.  Ebony Sellers and Brittany Baker added 12 and 11 points, respectively, for the Lions.

Georgian Court, which trailed by as many as nine points early in the second half, used a 16-3 run to take a 49-43 lead with 9:28 remaining on back-to-back baskets by Baker.  Southern New Hampshire countered with nine unanswered points.  A basket by Sloane Sorrell (Berwick, Maine) with 6:57 left put the Penmen on top 50-49, then Rocha made it 52-49 with 6:24 to go.

The Lions cut the lead to one on a Shauneia Mcphearson basket with 5:30 remaining, but the Penmen held Georgian Court to one field goal the rest of the way as they closed the game on a 9-2 run.

The two teams traded the lead four times in the game's first 10 minutes, but Southern New Hampshire used an 8-0 run capped by a layup by Victoria Wiseman (Montreal, Quebec) with 6:53 left that gave the guests a 22-15 lead.  The Lions cut the lead to two three times, the last on a Matthews basket with 2:23 left that made it 28-26, but the Penmen closed the half with a 6-1 spurt and led 34-27 at the break.

Southern New Hampshire shot 56% in the first half and 44.8% for the game while limiting Georgian Court to 38.8% shooting for the contest.  The Penmen outrebounded the Lions 36-34.

SNHU returns to action Saturday evening when it hosts Post University in a 6:00 non-conference tilt at the SNHU Fieldhouse.