BOX SCORE

When and Where: February 20, 2016 – Easton, Mass. (Merkert Gymnasium)
Score: Stonehill College 69, Southern New Hampshire University 58
Records: Stonehill 14-12 (9-11 Northeast-10), SNHU 14-12 (8-12 Northeast-10)

Junior Sara Ryan (Quincy, Mass.) scored 11 points off the bench, but the Southern New Hampshire University women's basketball team was defeated by Stonehill College, 69-58, Saturday afternoon at Merkert Gymnasium.

Ryan shot 4 of 8 from the field, including 2 of 4 from long range, while knocking down her only free throw attempt.

Paige Marshall led the Skyhawks with 21 points, while Kelly Martin added 20.

Stonehill jumped out to an 8-2 lead over the opening four minutes on seven points from Martin. The margin was seven over two-and-a-half minutes later when back-to-back three-point plays from Ryan and freshman Kylie Lorenzen (Holliston, Mass.) slashed the deficit to just one at 12-11 with under three minutes to go in the first quarter. Stonehill would hold a 14-13 edge after one.

A three-point play from freshman Aaliyah Paxton (Hainesport, N.J.) opened the second-quarter scoring and gave Southern New Hampshire its first lead of the afternoon, but five straight points from Maty Diabate powered a 7-0 run that put Stonehill back on top, 21-16, at the 7:21 mark of the second.

SNHU responded with four straight points from sophomore Jennifer Shelp (Apalachin, N.Y.) that triggered a 7-2 run, which knotted the game at 23-all with just under three minutes remaining in the half. The teams would go into halftime tied at 27.

With the contest even at 34 more than three-and-a-half minutes into the second half, Stonehill would use a 5-0 spurt to go up 39-34 just past the midway point of the period. Despite the Penmen trimming the gap to one on two occasions, the Skyhawks would carry a 48-43 advantage into the final frame.

A Diabate jumper made it a seven-point game just 30 seconds into the fourth quarter, but a 6-0 rush from Southern New Hampshire pulled it to within one at 50-49 with 7:00 on the clock. The margin was still one over a half-minute later when Stonehill ripped off a 17-4 run – with eight points from Martin and six from Samantha Hyslip – to balloon the lead to 69-55 with 13 ticks left.

Lorenzen finished with nine points (4-6 FG, 1-1 FT) and Paxton added eight points (3-5 FG, 2-6 FT) and three rebounds – both off the bench. Freshman Brianna Camara (Fall River, Mass.) paced the starting unit with seven points (3-10 FG, 1-1 FT), eight rebounds, four assists and two steals, with Shelp posting six points (3-7 FG) and eight boards. Sophomore Olivia Conrad (Hanover, Mass.) notched six points (1-6 FG, 4-6 FT), four rebounds and a pair of blocks, with senior Erin Doherty (Marshfield, Mass.) chipping in six points (3-6 FG) and three rebounds.

Notes:
-The loss ends Southern New Hampshire's postseason aspirations as it finds itself a game out of the fifth and final playoff spot in the Northeast-10 Northeast Division with one game to play. Even with a win Tuesday against Saint Anselm College and losses by both Stonehill and Merrimack College, the Penmen would lose the tiebreaker by virtue of its 0-4 record against the Skyhawks and Warriors.
-Southern New Hampshire outshot Stonehill, 42.6 percent (23-54) to 39.7 percent (27-68), including 27.3 percent (3-11) to 21.4 percent (3-14) from beyond the arc.
-The Penmen won the paint (38-28), but Stonehill captured the glass (38-37) and used a much better assist-to-turnover ratio (16/12 – 9/23) for a 23-8 gap in points off mistakes.

Up Next:
The Penmen wrap up their season Tuesday, Feb. 23 (5:30 p.m.) when they play host to crosstown-rival Saint Anselm College (17-8, 13-7 NE-10) on Senior Night at the Fieldhouse. The game will be televised live on NESNplus and NESN National, as well as broadcast on WGIR 610-AM. Tickets can be purchased HERE or at the box office on the day of the game.

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