MANCHESTER, N.H. – Lorreta Rocha (Espargos, Cape Verde) tallied 13 points to lead Southern New Hampshire University to a 60-39 Northeast-10 women's basketball victory over The College of Saint Rose Wednesday night at the SNHU Fieldhouse.  The Penmen improve to 7-7 and 4-6 in the NE-10 with the win, while the Golden Knights are now 5-9 and 2-8 in the league.

Rocha finished 6-10 from the floor and also recorded four rebounds and three steals.  Deborah LaValley (Rochester, N.H.) knocked down both of her three-point attempts and scored 11 points, while Sloane Sorrell (Berwick, Maine) added seven points.

Desiree Simmons was the lone Golden Knight to finish in double figures as she scored 10 points.

The Penmen opened a 9-3 lead 4:40 into the game following a conventional three-point play by LaValley.  Saint Rose took its second and final lead of the game, 12-11, with 6:32 remaining in the first half on a Simmons basket, while SNHU took the lead for good at the 3:23 mark on a LaValley basket that made it 16-14.  Southern New Hampshire closed the half on a 7-0 run, and took a 25-17 lead into the locker room as Brooke Springfield (Jaffrey, N.H.) banked home a 28-footer as time expired.

Southern New Hampshire put the game away by opening the second half on a 16-7 run capped by a Rocha layup with 13:41 remaining that made it 41-24.  The Penmen maintained at least a 14-point advantage the rest of the way and opened up a 52-32 lead with just over six minutes to go on a layup by Rocha.

Southern New Hampshire forced 26 Saint Rose turnovers, including registering a season-high 18 steals, as it held a commanding 32-6 advantage in points off turnovers.  The Penmen shot 51.9% in the second half and 41.7% for the game while limiting the Golden Knights to 30.4% shooting for the contest.  Saint Rose outrebounded the hosts 38-37.

Southern New Hampshire returns to action Saturday, January 19 when it travels to the University of New Haven for a 1:30 contest.  The next Penmen home game is Saturday, January 26 when SNHU hosts Adelphi University in a 1:30 NE-10 tilt.