Jan. 2, 2011

Box Score | O'Neil: 'We have to hit our layups'

Senior G Kristin McWhirter (Melvin Village, N.H.) scored 14 points and freshman G Mary Louise Dixon (Wellesley, Mass.) added 13 as Stonehill College defeated UMass Lowell, 65-52, Sunday afternoon in a Northeast-10 Conference women's basketball clash at the Costello Athletic Center.

With the loss, UMass Lowell slipped to 4-7 overall and 3-4 in the NE-10 entering Wednesday night's home game against Assumption (5:30). Stonehill improved to 8-4 overall and 3-4 in the Conference and hosts Southern Connecticut Wednesday (5:30).

Sophomore G Bianca Simmons (Middletown, Conn.) led the River Hawks with 21 points, seven rebounds and three assists while junior F Sha'nay Bushner (Akron, Ohio) and freshman F Sarah Bennett (Newark, Ohio) each scored 10 points. Bennett grabbed five rebounds and shot 5 for 8 from the floor while Bushner snatched four rebounds.

Dixon converted 5 of 8 field goals while McWhirter hit 8 of 10 free throws, all in the second half. Junior F Tania Williams (South Setauket, N.Y.) added 12 points and six rebounds (5-7 field goals) while senior G Emily Rousseau (Biddeford, Maine) chipped in 10 points and four assists.

UMass Lowell committed 20 turnovers opposed to only nine from Stonehill, but the Skyhawks were only able to outscore the River Hawks 11-8 on points off miscues.

Stonehill also had an 18-6 edge from 3-point range, converting 6 of 13 attempts, while UMass Lowell struggled to a 2-12 clip.

"Turnovers have plagued us this year," said Head Coach Kathy O'Neil. "We've been emphasizing it and emphasizing it. We make some bad decisions and I think some of that is that we're out there with quite a few freshmen and sophomores making decisions. Perimeter shots, sometimes they go and sometimes they don't. But we have to hit our layups.

"We've just got to come back tomorrow and try to improve and get ready for Assumption," she added.

The Skyhawks 42-41 with 10:23 left to play and capitalized on a 14-2 run to post a 56-43 cushion with 4:09 left to play. Dixon led the run with eight points. UMass Lowell cut the lead to eight points on two occasions, but could get no closer as Stonehill converted 4 of 6 free throws in the final 1:34.

The Skyhawks led at the break, 26-20.