Men's Basketball

November 29, 2009

Men's Basketball Drops 77-59 Decision To Stonehill

Men's Box Score: http://www.smcathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2009-10/stats/mstostm.htm

Women's Box Score: http://www.smcathletics.com/sports/wbkb/2009-10/stats/wstostm.htm

Men's Photos: http://www.shanebufano.com/saint-michaels-college/mens-basketball/smcvsstonehill112909mb.html

Women's Photos: http://www.shanebufano.com/saint-michaels-college/womens-basketball/smcvsstonehillcollege112909wb.html

COLCHESTER, Vt. - Saint Michael's College was swept by Stonehill College in Northeast-10 Conference basketball action on Sunday at the Ross Sports Center. In the opener, the Saint Michael's women (2-2, 1-2 NE-10) was edged by the Skyhawks in overtime, 67-63, and in the nightcap, the Saint Michael's men (3-2, 1-2 NE-10) suffered a 77-59 loss to visiting Stonehill.

In the women's contest, 21st-ranked Stonehill (6-2, 2-0 NE-10) made 9-of-13 free throws in overtime to hold off the upset-minded Purple Knights and claim the win. Senior Kelsey Simonds (Middleboro, Mass.) led four Skyhawks in double figures with 19 points and 12 rebounds, while junior Kristen McWhirter (Melvin Village, N.H.) added 17 points, seven rebounds and four assists. Senior Stephanie Pintal (Nashua, N.H.) and junior Emily Rousseau (Biddeford, Maine) netted 10 points apiece as the Skyhawks overcame 22 turnovers to earn the road win.

For the Purple Knights, senior Alexis Keller (Harrington Park, N.J./Old Tappan) led the way with a game-high 22 points and a team-best nine rebounds, six assists and four steals, while classmate Michelle Otey (Southborough, Mass./Algonquin Regional) added 15 points, seven rebounds and three steals. Junior Logan Pintka (Schenectady, N.Y./Colonie Central) chipped in with 12 points as Saint Michael's shot just 31 percent from the field in the game (22-of-72).

Both teams started slowly offensively, as Saint Michael's held a 5-4 lead more than nine minutes into the contest. The Purple Knights opened 1-of-12 from the field and committed seven turnovers in the first 9:30 of play, while Stonehill went 2-of-12 from the floor and was called for eight turnovers during that same stretch. The Skyhawks used an 11-0 run later in the half to take a 19-9 lead, but Saint Michael's then went on a 12-2 run to take a 23-22 advantage before Stonehill nudged back in front at halftime, 26-24.

Stonehill stretched its lead to 42-34 with 12:30 left in regulation, but Saint Michael's went on a 14-5 run to take a 48-47 lead on a lay-up from junior Marilyn Ferreira (New London, N.H./Kearsarge Regional) with 6:45 to go in the second half. The lead changed hands five more times in the period, with Stonehill taking the final lead of the half at 55-52 with 1:17 to go, but the Purple Knights forced overtime on a tying 3-pointer from junior Meghan McCormack (Barrie, Ont./Saint Peter's Secondary School) with two seconds on the clock.

In overtime, Stonehill never trailed, although the Purple Knights trimmed a five-point deficit to one point, 64-63, with 45 seconds to go. Pintka, however, missed a potential game-tying free throw, and a costly turnover with 10 seconds left in the extra session sealed the Purple Knights' fate.

In the men's game, Stonehill (3-1, 2-0 NE-10) closed the first half on an 18-5 run and never trailed thereafter to pull away for the victory. Senior A.J. Rudowitz (Monroe Township, N.J.) led the Skyhawks with a game-high 19 points and nine rebounds, while classmate Randall Stallworth (Toms River, N.J.) was the only other player on the team to score in double figures, recording 18 points and six assists. The duo helped Stonehill claim a 34-27 rebounding advantage, including 14-4 on the offensive glass, and helped the Skyhawks turn the ball over just nine times in the game.

For Saint Michael's, freshman Travis Warech (Pine Brook, N.J./Montville) had a team-best 18 points and two blocks, making 6-of-8 shots from the field. Sophomore Qua'ron Pinckney (Bronx, N.Y./Saint Benedict's Prep (N.J.)) tallied 11 points on 5-of-8 shooting as the Purple Knights shot 51 percent from the field in the game (21-of-41), but was undone by 19 turnovers.

The game was close for much of the first half, with Saint Michael's taking its final lead at 27-25 on a Warech 3-pointer with 4:56 left in the opening period. The Skyhawks then closed the half on their 18-5 run, with Stallowrth contributing nine points and an assist during the game-changing stretch, as the visitors led 43-32 at intermission. Saint Michael's could get no closer than nine points in the second half, as Stonehill held a 20-13 rebounding edge after halftime and made 12-of-17 free throws in the second period.

Saint Michael's returns to action on Wednesday, as the Purple Knights visit league-rival Southern New Hampshire University for a doubleheader (women at 5:30 p.m., men at 7:30 p.m.). Stonehill also next plays on Wednesday, visiting conference-foe Saint Anselm College for a pair of games (women at 5:30 p.m., men at 7:30 p.m.).

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Saint Michael's College

Athletics

Men's Basketball

November 29, 2009

Men's Basketball Drops 77-59 Decision To Stonehill