Dec. 8, 2007
W. LONG BRANCH, N.J. (December 8, 2007) - The Sacred Heart Pioneers had four players in double figures led by junior Kaitlin Sowinski (Hopkinton, RI) who scored 15 points with 10 rebounds in a 61-58 win at Monmouth University in the Northeast Conference opener for both teams. The Pioneers overcame a tough afternoon at the free throw line, hitting just 22 of 38 at the charity stripe (57.9%) to even their record at 4-4 and take their NEC opener for the eighth time in the nine years in the league.
Sowinski and fellow junior Stephanie Ryan (Coram, NY) both posted double doubles for the second-straight game. Ryan came up with 14 points and a season-high 14 caroms adding three assists and two steals to her line.
Freshman Alisa Apo (Cherry Hill, NJ), playing close to her hometown, had her best game in her young career, scoring 12 points off the bench. Junior Khalia Cain (Manchester, CT) was the other Pioneer in double digits with 10 points while pulling down a career-high six boards.
With game tied at 17-17 at the nine minute mark, the Pioneers used a 9-0 run over the next three minutes. Ryan got the run going with a lay-up and a jumper and Cain ended it with a dribble drive for a 26-17 lead. The Hawks ended their 4:30 scoring drought with a Veronica Randolph reverse lay-up and pulled to within 28-26 at the 2:20 mark.
Apo gave SHU back an eight-point lead as the rookie scored six-straight points. Apo converted on a three-point play and then buried three-of-four at the line in the closing seconds to give the Pioneers a 35-26 lead. Randolph gave the Hawks some momentum however before the halftime horn, burying a long three at the buzzer.
The SHU lead hit nine again in the second half, 47-38, on an Apo jumper but the Hawks refused to go away and quickly cut it back to two on a lightening fast 7-0 spurt. MU made another rally and this time pulled even, 50-50, with 6:25 thanks to a Rachel Ferdinand lay-in.
The Pioneers responded again and their lead went to seven after a 7-0 run of their own but the Hawks had one more run in them. Monmouth cut the lead to one, 57-56, on a lay-up from Jennifer Bender and a pair of jumpers by Randolph and Nyaimah Ware and had the basketball with 25 seconds left with the chance to go ahead.
Sacred Heart had one more play left in them as Cain delivered with steal and was fouled intentionally by Randolph who was trying to stop the breakaway. Cain and freshman Maggie Cosgrove (Andover, MA) both made one-of-two at the line to seal the win.
The Pioneers will stay in conference for Monday night's game, traveling to Central Connecticut for a 7:00 pm tip.
