Stonehill is the 49th women’s basketball program across all three levels in NCAA history to reach 1,000 wins, having posted a 1,000-451 (.689) record over its 53 seasons. The Skyhawks 1,000 wins rank fourth among New England women’s basketball programs behind only Connecticut (1,322), Bentley (1,192), and Husson (1,181). Tennessee’s 1,486 wins lead all women’s basketball programs and Stonehill is the first NEC program, past or present, to reach the milestone.
Swider scored a career-high 27 points and matched her career-best with 16 rebounds for her team-leading fifth double-double, totaling 16 points and ten boards in the second half alone. It marks her third 20-point game of the season – all over the last five games – and ninth double-digit rebound game, as she finished shooting 11-for-20 from the floor while converting 5-of-6 free-throws to go with two blocks, an assist, and a steal.
Delaney scored ten of her career-high 14 points in the first half to provide a spark off the Skyhawks bench (PHOTO BY Larry Radloff Photography) |
Stonehill got a career-high 14 points from sophomore reserve guard Breana Delaney, including ten in the first half, on 6-of-9 shooting, including 2-for-3 from three-point range, with three rebounds, two assists and career-best two steals in 26-minutes off the bench for the Skyhawks. Senior Sharn Hayward rounded out Stonehill’s double-figure scorers with ten points, a career-high eight assists, three rebounds, and two steals, while freshman Megan Sias chipped in seven points and a season-best eight boards.
Freshman Aiyanna Culver led three from Chicago State in double-figures with 17 points on 6-of-18 shooting, four rebounds, three assists, and a steal. Junior Josie Hill scored 11 of her 15 points in the first half, finishing 6-of-13 from the floor, nine rebounds, and three blocked shots, while sophomore Kace Urlacher posted 11 points, eight boards, three assists, two steals and a block.
Stonehill withstood a Chicago State rally from ten points down (54-44) after Sias scored a tip-in to open the fourth quarter to earn its ninth win of the season. Swider scored the Skyhawks final four points in the last minute to halt the comeback, including the winning basket with 7.5 seconds to play. The Cougars used a 12-2 run to pull even (56-56) on a three-point play from Urlacher with six minutes remaining.
Stonehill bent, but would not break, not surrendering the lead as Delaney and Swider followed with consecutive baskets to restore a four-point cushion (62-58) with four minutes to play. Chicago State drew even again (62-62) with two free throws from senior Tania Allen with 1:21 to play, but Swider’s two baskets in the final minute secured the Skyhawks win.
Stonehill took a three-point lead (31-28) into halftime after trailing by as much as six in the opening quarter behind Swider and Delaney’s 21 combined points. Senior Maureen Stapleton scored the only basket by either team over the first three minutes of the third quarter with a three-pointer to stretch the Skyhawks lead to six (34-28). Stonehill extended the lead to seven (42-35) with a Sias free-throw with four minutes to go in the third and stretched it to eight (44-36) with two Swider free-throws a minute later.
Swider twice pushed the Stonehill lead to double figures for the first time in the last minute of the third quarter, but Hill and Culver kept the Skyhawks within reach with answering buckets to draw within eight (52-44) heading to the fourth.
Noteworthy
Stonehill (9-11, 5-2 NEC) will have the week off after playing two of three games over the last six days on the road before visiting Central Connecticut State University next Saturday to tip off the February stretch run at 1 p.m. The Skyhawks return home the following Saturday, February 8, to host LIU for their Alumnae Day Game at Merkert Gym at 2 p.m. Chicago State (2-20, 2-5 NEC) visits LIU next Saturday at 2 p.m.
Tickets for home Stonehill basketball games can be purchased in advance online at stonehillskyhawks.com/tickets.
For the latest on Stonehill Athletics, follow the Skyhawks via social media on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, and check out its all-new website, powered by Sidearm Sports, at stonehillskyhawks.com.
