WOMEN'S BASKETBALL DROPS TO #21 STONEHILL, 71-66
EASTON, MA - The Pace University women's basketball team lost to the Skyhawks of Stonehill College, 71-66, in a Northeast-10 Conference match-up today at Merkert Gymnasium in Easton, MA. The Setters fall to 14-6 on the season and 9-6 in the NE-10; while the #21 ranked Skyhawks improve to 16-5 overall and 11-5 in conference play.
The first half featured even action from both sides as each team battled for control. Pace would be the first team to take control as they built a 10-point lead with the help of a 14-0 run. Freshman Taylor Losey (Bristol, CT/Bristol Eastern) led the run for the Setters scoring seven points. Losey finished the afternoon with nine points. Stonehill would answer back with a 12-1 run to retake the lead. Bethany Tighe scored six points in the run for the Skyhawks. The Setters tied the game for the third time at 29 with 3:35 remaining in the half, but the Skyhawks would take a 36-33 advantage heading into halftime.
The beginning of the second half was similar to the first as each team looked for an edge. The Setters took their biggest lead of the second frame, 50-43, with 12:42 left in the game, on a pair of free throws from Stephanie Rossmy (Staten Island, NY/St. John Villa). Stonehill took back control of the game, as the Skyhawks built a 10-point lead, 60-50, scoring the next 17 points of the ballgame. Tighe and Megan Methven each scored six points in the 17-0 run. Hannah Sheppard's (Norwich, CT/Norwich Free Academy) three pointer at the 5:42 mark ended Pace's seven minute scoring drought. The Setters would cut the deficit to three points, 67-64, with 57 seconds remaining, but would be unable to get any closer.
Senior Ashley Wallace (Oswego, NY/Oswego) led the Setters offense with a game-high 17 points, on 7-for-8 shooting from the field. Classmate Sheppard added 12 points, to go along with eight rebounds. Liran Buchris (Massad, Israel/Great Neck South) contributed with 11 points, while dishing out four assists. Pace shot 48.1% (26-for-54) from the field, 42.9% (6-for-14) from beyond the arc and 66.7% (8-for-12) from the line.
Stonehill had four players score in double-figures, led by Alisha Collins' game-high 17 points, to go along with seven rebounds. Tighe and Methven added 14 and 12 points respectively, while Caitlin Kennedy finished the afternoon with 10. Tiffany Huggins contributed with eight points, to go along with eight rebounds and four assists. Stonehill was able to win the game despite shooting 41.5% (22-for-53) from the field and 40.0% (8-for-20) from three. The Skyhawks were able to control the game by converting on 19 of 28 attempts (67.9%) from the charity stripe.
Stonehill also won the battle of the glass, outrebounding the Setters 36-33.
Pace returns to action on Wednesday, January 31st,
when they travel to Rindge, New Hampshire to take on the Ravens of
Franklin Pierce College in a Northeast-10 Conference match-up.
Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. The Setters will look to even
the season series as the Ravens defeated the Setters earlier in the
season, 60-56, on November 29th in Pleasantville, NY
