Women's basketball advances to NEC championship

By Chris Robbins

Stonehill women’s basketball beat Le Moyne in the NEC tournament semifinal and are advancing to the NEC championship game for the first time.

The Skyhawks started the night strong with a 15-0 run to start the first quarter. Senior Guard Sharn Hayward scored 11 of the Skyhawks' 22 first quarter points and the team held Le Moyne to just seven in the first.

The Dolphins were able to battle back in the second quarter, holding the Skyhawks to just nine points in the quarter, their lowest scoring quarter of the tournament. Freshman Forward Megan Sias led the team in the second with five points, and the team went into the half up 31-20.

Stonehill came out of the half playing some incredible defense, holding Le Moyne to just three made shots on 10 attempts in the third quarter. Graduate Center Kylie Swider had a big third quarter, scoring eight of the team’s 12 points in the third as well as grabbing four rebounds.

The fourth quarter belonged to Sophomore Guard Brooke Paquette, hitting four three-pointers and scoring 13 of the Skyhawks' 17 points in the quarter. The team kept their great defensive half going, holding the Dolphins to just five made shots on 16 attempts in the fourth quarter.

Paquette led the team in scoring with 19 points, extending her streak of games with double digit scoring up to 11 straight games. Swider ended the night with 16 points and 11 rebounds, marking her tenth double-double of the season.

Photo Credit: Jim Pierce

Hayward continued to add to her record-breaking season, making three more three-pointers, bringing her season total up to 109 three-pointers. Hayward holds the record for most three-pointers in a single season for Stonehill and is now fifth all time for the NEC.

Stonehill will travel to Hackensack, N.J. to play the number one seed FDU and look to end their undefeated season in conference play. The game will be broadcast on ESPNU and ESPN+ at 12 p.m. on Sunday.