Benischek, Merrimack Maul Stonehill, 80-65

2/9/2010 12:00:00 AM

NORTH ANDOVER, MA - Behind a career-high 28 points from junior Sarah Benischek (Shrub Oak, NY), the Merrimack women's basketball team took down the Stonehill College Skyhawks going away, 80-65.

"Sarah was just one of the many players who played great for us today," said head coach Helen Williams following the win.  "We made plays when we needed to on both ends of the floor and that turned out to be the difference."

Sophomore Genn Roy (Granby, MA) scored 13 points and was one of four Warriors in double digits as Merrimack shot 53% on the evening and 44% from three-point range.

With the win, Merrimack improved to 9-14 (7-11 NE-10) while Stonehill fell to 17-8 (12-6 NE-10) after receving votes in the national poll at the beginning of the week.

The Warriors came out firing in the first half behind hot shooting from Benischek and a season-high 16 first half points.  Benischek made 3-of-5 three-pointers and shot 6-of-8, matching Roy's 6-of-8 in the first half to give her 13 points.

Despite 10 Stonehill points off Merrimack turnovers and 4-of-5 from long range before the break, Merrimack used a 7-2 run capped by a Benischek three-pointer at the buzzer from Roy to end the half.

In the first half, both team's shot well from the field, but it was Merrimack's 53% shooting and a 19-12 rebounding edge that gave the Warriors their largest lead of nine points.

To start the secod half, Benischek and the Warriors continued their dominance.  Junior Tiffany Colon (Lawrence, MA) converted a layup (as part of 12 points) one minute into the  contest to give Merrimack an 11-point lead they would not relinquish.  The Warriors would not only hang onto the lead, but pushed the margin to 22 and ran away to their greatest margin of victory on the year.

In the game, Merrimack also out-rebounded the Skyhawks 35-27 and won the fast break battle 8-2 thanks to 16 forced turnovers and six Merrimack steals.

The Warriors return to action in Conference action at Umass-Lowell on Saturday for a 2:00pm tip-off with the current six-seed of the Northeast-10 after a loss to Southern New Hampshire Tuesday.