Jan. 2, 2010

Box Score

Junior G Kristen McWhirter compiled 19 points and three assists as Stonehill College defeated UMass Lowell, 73-57, Saturday afternoon in a Northeast-10 Conference women's basketball clash at the Merkert Gymnasium.

With the loss, UMass Lowell slipped to 7-4 overall and 3-4 in the Conference entering Wednesday's clash at Assumption (5:30). Stonehill improved to 10-4 overall and 5-2 in the NE-10.

Senior Amanda McGrew (Santa Monica, CA) led the River Hawks with 18 points - including 16 in the first half - as she converted 4 of 9 attempts from 3-point range. The outburst marked McGrew third straight game in double digits.

Senior G Rahshala Valentine (Cincinnati, OH) chipped in 11 points, five assists and five rebounds while senior F Jen Valente (Prospect, CT) added 10 points and nine rebounds, hitting 4 of 6 field goal attempts.

Junior G Emily Rousseau compiled 17 points and six assists for Stonehill as she converted 6 of 12 field goal attempts and 4 of 6 from 3-point range. Senior C Kelsey Simonds added 16 points and six rebounds on 7 of 14 field goal shooting.

The River Hawks were plagued by 29 turnovers, opposed to 21 by Stonehill, who capitalized with a 27-21 scoring edge in points off turnovers.

The Skyhawks had a 35-33 lead at the break and shot .519 from the floor in the second half (14-27). UMass Lowell, which shot .480 in the first stanza (12-25), struggled to a .321 clip (9-28) in the second half.

Stonehill opened the latter half with a 14-4 run and never looked back to post a 49-37 cushion with 15:45 left to play. Rousseau led the run with eight points while McWhirter added four.

"We let them do what they wanted on offense," said UML Head Coach Kathy O'Neil. "It is difficult to win when you don't defend."

UMass Lowell cut the lead to 10 (51-41) with 14:19 left on a trey by Valentine, but the Skyhawks countered with a 15-4 spurt to post a 66-45 lead with 8:03 left to play. Rousseau was again the catalyst with six points.