Purple Knights News

January 6, 2007

Men Win, Women Fall To Stonehill In Basketball Doubleheader


COLCHESTER, Vt. ? Saint Michael's College split a doubleheader with Stonehill College in Northeast-10 Conference basketball action on Saturday at the Ross Sports Center. In the opener, the Purple Knight women fell to the nationally-ranked Skyhawks, 62-46, and in the nightcap, the Saint Michael's men outscored Stonehill, 92-76.

In the men's contest, Saint Michael's (9-5, 7-3 NE-10) drained a season-high 15 3-pointers, including 11 in the first half, to best Stonehill (11-4, 6-4 NE-10) and claim sole possession of third place in the conference standings. Four players scored in double figures for the Purple Knights, led by senior Chris Cayole (Burlington, Vt./Rice Memorial), who had 25 points (5-of-6 3-pointers), eight rebounds, five assists and four blocks. Junior James Sorrentine (Pawtucket, R.I./Saint Raphael Academy) netted 23 points, burying 6-of-12 3-pointers, senior Brendan Mullins (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove South) added 18 points and a game-high seven assists, and junior Brian Monahan (Kinderhook, N.Y./Christian Brothers Academy) recorded 15 points and 12 rebounds for his fifth double-double of the season. Saint Michael's also shot 13-of-14 from the foul line, and committed just 10 turnovers to improve to 5-2 at home this season.

For Stonehill, sophomore Nick Smith (Colonia, N.J.) had a game-high 27 points, hitting 10-of-20 shots from the field. Senior Soap Toun (Cranston, R.I.) added 12 points on four 3-pointers, while freshman Randall Stallworth (Toms River, N.J.) tallied 10 points and seven assists. The Skyhawks saw their six-game winning streak come to an end, as the visitors allowed a season-high point total.

Saint Michael's raced out to a 53-34 halftime lead, as the Purple Knights drained 11-of-18 trifectas in the first period. The Purple Knights extended their lead to a game-high 23 points, 79-56, with 8:15 remaining, but Stonehill pulled to within 84-73 with three minutes to play. The Skyhawks, however, made just one of their last six field goal attempts, and consecutive 3-pointers by Mullins and Sorrentine in the waning minutes sealed the victory for the Purple Knights.

In the first game, Stonehill (13-2, 8-2 NE-10), ranked 15th in this week's WBCA Division II National Coaches' Poll, outscored the Purple Knights 36-21 in the second half to break open a close game and record its sixth straight victory. Sophomore Bethany Tighe (North Easton, Mass.) led a balanced scoring attack with 16 points off the bench, hitting 8-of-11 shots from the field. Senior Alisha Collins (Port Chester, N.Y.) added 15 points and a game-high nine rebounds, while classmate Caitlin Kennedy (Baldwin, N.Y.) chipped in with 12 points. The Skyhawks outrebounded Saint Michael's 47-41 and committed just 13 turnovers, offsetting 35 percent shooting from the field and 3-of-22 shooting from 3-point territory.

For Saint Michael's (7-7, 4-6 NE-10), senior Dani Rayner (Westminster, Vt./Bellows Falls Union) had a team-best 14 points, while twin sister Jevy Rayner (Westminster, Vt./Bellows Falls Union) tallied 12 points and a team-high six rebounds. No other Purple Knight scored more than four points as Saint Michael's shot just 32 percent from the field in the contest, including 26 percent in the second half.

The Purple Knights trailed by just one, 26-25, at halftime, as the Skyhawks shot just 31 percent from the field in the opening period. Stonehill, however, scored the first 10 points of the second half to open up a 36-25 advantage, and Saint Michael's failed to get back into the contest, due to poor free throw shooting (6-of-12 in the second half) and poor rebounding (25-21 Stonehill advantage after halftime).

The Saint Michael's men return to action on Monday, as the Purple Knights visit Saint Thomas Aquinas College for a 7 p.m. non-league contest. Both teams play their next home game on Thursday, as Saint Michael's hosts Assumption College in an NE-10 doubleheader (women at 5:30 p.m., men at 7:30 p.m.). Stonehill hosts Merrimack College on Thursday in a league twinbill.

##PURPLEKNIGHTS###