March 8, 2008

Box Score

Stony Brook, N.Y. - Senior Aly Young (Lodi, Calif.) and freshman Jodie Plikus (Waterford, Conn.) led five Stony Brook scorers in double figurers with 13 points as the Seawolves held New Hampshire to two field goals in the first half en route to a 77-37 victory over the Wildcats at the Stony Brook Arena on Saturday afternoon. Stony Brook snaps its 12 game losing streak and finishes the regular season 7-22, 2-14 in America East play. New Hampshire is 7-21, 4-12.

"Obviously I'm pleased with the team's effort today," head coach Michele Cherry said. "More importantly, and I told them this in the locker room, `We have to come out in the second half with the same intensity as the first half'. Our effort on both ends of the floor was as good as it has been all season."

After Denise Beliveau scored the first basket of the game, Stony Brook opened up a 23-2 run over 10 minutes of game action. The Seawolves shot 9 of 17 during the run as Young led the way with six points. Conversely, New Hampshire was just 0 of 8 from the field making two free throws and committed six turnovers.

The Seawolves stretched their first-half lead to 20 with 6:58 left in the half after Plikus hit her 25th three-pointer of the season. Following a missed three from Amy Simpson, freshman Misha Horsey (Wyncote, Pa.) held the ball for the final seconds of the half and dished to sophomore Crystal Rushin (Valley Stream, N.Y.) for a jumper as Stony Brook took a 41-18 lead into the locker room.

After Simpson knocked in a three from the top of the key to cut the Stony Brook lead to 50-27 with 14:05 left in the game, the Wildcats' shooting woes continued as they missed on nine straight shots before Jill McDonald connected on a jumper in the paint. During that time, Stony Brook opened up a 30-point advantage.

Stony Brook stretched the lead to 71-31 with 3:34 left in the game after a jumper from sophomore Joia Daniels (Silver Spring, Md.). New Hampshire missed 16 of 17 shots to end the game.

As a team, Stony Brook shot 11 of 21 in the second half including a perfect 3 of 3 from behind the arc.

The 77 points were a team-high for the Seawolves and the 37 from New Hampshire were the fewest Stony Brook has allowed this season.

Along with Young and Plikus' 13 points, Horsey, Rushin and freshman Kirsten Jeter (Elmont, N.Y.) all had 10 points. Young was Stony Brook's America East player of the game. Four players had at least six rebounds for Stony Brook led by Rushin's seven.

McDonald and Simpson each had eight points for New Hampshire. McDonald earned player of the game honors for the Wildcats as she also grabbed four rebounds.

No. 9 Stony Brook will face No. 8 Maine in the first round of the America East Championships on Thursday evening at 7 pm at Hartford's Chase Family Arena. Both teams split the two regular season games this season with each winning on its home court. For tickets and more information on the 2008 America East Tournament, please visit the women's basketball page at www.AmericaEast.com.