NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – Sloane Sorrell (Berwick, Maine) totaled 22 points and 10 rebounds as Southern New Hampshire University made a late push past Merrimack College en route to a 67-57 Northeast-10 women's basketball victory Saturday afternoon at Hammel Court.  The Penmen improved to 19-8 overall and 14-7 in the NE-10, while the Warriors are now 5-20 and 4-17 in league play.

With the win, the Penmen have posted their most victories since 1989-90 when SNHU was 22-8.  Southern New Hampshire moved into a three-way tie for fourth in the Northeast-10 standings with Assumption and Franklin Pierce.

Sorrell finished 10-18 from the floor en route to her seventh double-double in the last 11 games.  Michelle DeRoma (West Roxbury, Mass.) knocked down three three-pointers and finished with 13 points, while Megan Smith (Smithfield, Maine) totaled 11 points off the bench.  Christine Duffy (South Boston, Mass.) finished with double-digit assists for the fourth straight game, handing out 14 while also scoring seven points.  Brooke Springfield (Jaffrey, N.H.) notched eight points.

Kelly Schatzlein paced Merrimack with 17 points and 10 rebounds while Chloe Rothman added 16 points and nine boards.  Gennifer Roy chipped in with 13 points.

Merrimack led 48-44 with just over eight minutes remaining when the Penmen used a 9-0 run capped by a Springfield three with 5:09 to go to build a 53-48 lead.  Rothman scored on Merrimack's next possession, but back-to-back baskets by Sorrell put SNHU on top 57-50 with 3:34 left.    The hosts pulled within five on Rothman's basket with 2:54 to go, but the Penmen went 6-6 at the free throw line over the final 2:31 to seal the win.

SNHU trailed 30-27 at halftime but a Duffy three on SNHU's first possession of the second half tied the game.  The two teams traded the lead six times, but Merrimack used a 7-2 spurt capped by a Valerie Avebe basket to go up 48-44.

The Warriors led much of the first half and built an 18-11 lead nine minutes into the game, but Southern New Hampshire used a 9-2 run capped by a Sorrell basket to knot the game 20-20 with 7:44 left before halftime.  Merrimack responded with a 6-0 spurt to go up 26-20.  A DeRoma three 12 seconds before intermission pulled SNHU within three, 30-27, at the break.

Southern New Hampshire shot 51.9% in the second half and 42.6% for the game while limiting the Warriors to 36.4% shooting for the contest.  The Penmen went 10-13 at the free throw line and 5-13 behind the arc while Merrimack was just 3-16 from three and 6-10 at the charity stripe.  The hosts held a 42-40 rebounding advantage.

SNHU closes out the regular season Tuesday night when it travels to Saint Michael's College for a 5:30 Northeast-10 contest.