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Kelsey Simonds came up with a huge block in the waning seconds to secure the Skyhawks' 20th win of the season. |
Worcester, Mass. - It was only fitting that Erika Stupinski (Topsham, Maine/Mount Ararat) was the one to seal the win for Stonehill. The senior guard led a second half charge that erased a 16-point Assumption advantage and ended with the Skyhawks securing a 65-61 win over the host Greyhounds on Saturday afternoon.
The win for 15th ranked Stonehill is their seventh straight and 20th of the season, giving the 37 year old program its 20th season with at least 20 wins.
Now at 16-3 in the Northeast-10, the Skyhawks remain one game ahead of Franklin Pierce, who defeated Merrimack, 77-57 to improve to 15-4 in Conference action. Assumption, falls to 20-6 overall and 14-5 in league play. They stand essential three games behind Stonehill courtesy of the Skyhawks winning both head-to-head meetings this season.
That scenario seemed to be in doubt early on, as the Greyhounds raced out to an 18-4 lead less than six minutes into the contest. With reserve Sara Czarnecki doing most of the work inside and Bethany Plasski providing the perimeter play, Assumption shot 57 percent from the field in the first half, as that duo combined for 19 points on 8-for-13 shooting.
Stonehill, meanwhile, connected on only 10 of its 33 first half shots and saw junior Kelsey Simonds (Middleboro, Mass./Cardinal Spellman) play only five minutes in the opening stanza after picking up two early fouls.
Stupinski, however, along with junior Bethany Tighe (North Easton, Mass./Oliver Ames) shouldered much of the offense in Simonds' absence, combining for 16 first half points. The tide began to change for the Skyhawks as the first half wound down. A deep Stupinksi triple with five seconds remaining in the half trimmed the Assumption lead to 37-25 at the half.
Stonehill opened the half on 7-3 run capped by a Simonds layup that had the lead at 40-32, the first time it fell below double digits since the initial moments of the contest.
A 13-2 run that featured two three-pointers from freshman Kristen McWhirter (Melvin Village, N.H./New Hampton School), three free throws from Tighe, a jumper from Erin Gray (Clifton Park, N.Y./ Shenendehowa) and two more freebies from Stupinski had the game even at 50-50 with 8:15 remaining.
Plasski and Stupinski traded three-point bombs on the next two possessions but a short jumper by Plasski, who eclipsed the 1,000 point mark earlier in the game, gave the Greyhounds a 55-53 lead with 6:48 to go.
The Skyhawks finally got over the hump and took the lead at 56-55 following two Skyhawks making three of their combined six free throws.
Stupinski then picked Trish Gardner's pocket and found a cutting Simonds for a conventional three-point play, giving Stonehill its biggest lead of the contest at 59-55 at the 3:38 mark.
After four straight points by Assumption knotted the game at 59, Stupinski scored on a driving layup but missed the subsequent free throw and the Greyhounds evened the score as Gardner nailed an open jumper from the top of the key.
With less than 40 seconds to play, Stupinski's three-point attempt fell short, but Tighe alertly tapped the ball to Simonds before falling out of bounds and Simonds converted the easy layin for a 63-61 Stonehill lead with 29 seconds to go.
Plasski had a chance to tie the game with 12 seconds left but her jumper was swatted away by Simonds, who corralled the rebound and found Stupinski, who put the finishing touches on the Skyhawks' ninth road win of the season.
After allowing the hosts to connect on 57 percent of their shots in the first half, the Skyhawks held Assumption to just 27 percent in the final 20 minutes.
Stupinski led the Skyhawks with a career-high 21 points, while adding nine assists, six rebounds and three steals. Tighe added 14 points and eight rebounds and Simonds chipped in with 10 points, eight rebounds and three blocks.
Plasski finished with 22 points on 9-for-21 shooting for the Greyhounds, who also got the first career double-double from Czarnecki (12 points, 12 rebounds).
Stonehill returns to action on Tuesday when it hosts Bryant at 5:30 p.m.
