ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Graduate student Victoria Wiseman (Montreal, Quebec) matched her career high with 21 points as Southern New Hampshire University downed Saint Leo University 80-60 in the first round of the Eckerd College Thanksgiving Classic Friday afternoon.  The Penmen snapped a three-game slide and are now 3-3, while the Lions suffered their first loss and are 3-1 on the campaign.

Wiseman finished 8-12 from the floor and also added four rebounds and three assists.  Brooke Springfield (Jaffrey, N.H.) notched a season-best 16 points, while grabbing seven rebounds, while Chelsea Dunham (Johnson, Vt.) made all four of her field goal attempts and added eight points, matching her career high, while Sara Ryan (Quincy, Mass.) knocked down a pair of three-pointers and also finished with eight points while handing out seven assists.

Maggie Flynn led Saint Leo with 15 points off the bench, while Kinnara Lewis finished with 13 points.  Melissa Jackson posted a double-double with 10 points and 14 rebounds.

Southern New Hampshire held a 33-29 halftime lead and opened the second half with an 18-5 run to open up a 51-34 lead with 14:44 left on a basket by Jennifer Shelp (Apalachin, N.Y.).  Saint Leo pulled within 11, 56-45, on a basket by Flynn with 10:32 to go, but an 11-4 Penmen run capped by a Springfield basket with just over six minutes to play pushed the lead back to 18, 67-49.  SNHU held at least a 15-point lead the rest of the way.

The first half saw eight ties and three tied, but a 7-0 run put the Lions on top 27-20 with just over five minutes remaining in the first half.  Southern New Hampshire reeled off 11 straight points and a Springfield three with 2:38 remaining put the Penmen on top 31-27.  The Penmen carried a 33-29 lead into the locker room.

SNHU shot 56.9% from the floor and knocked down six of its 13 three-point attempts while limiting Saint Leo to 28.4% shooting for the contest.  The Penmen held a 47-31 rebounding advantage on the afternoon.

Southern New Hampshire returns to action Saturday when it faces host Eckerd in a 3:00 contest.