Worcester, Mass. (January 7) -- Despite a season-high 34 points from senior All-American candidate Kelly Meredith (Franklin, Mass./Franklin), No. 15 ranked Assumption dropped a 77-54 final to visiting Southern New Hampshire on Saturday afternoon in Northeast-10 play. Meredith was the lone Assumption player in double figures in the game.

Four early points by Meredith gave the Hounds the lead twice in the opening minutes, but that was the last lead Assumption held as the Penmen opened up a 10-point lead at 17-7 with 12:32 left in the first half after a layup by Sloane Sorrell. The Hounds cut the lead down to three with a quick 7-0 run before Southern New Hampshire answered and took a 32-22 lead into the halftime break.

In the second half, the Hounds cut the lead down to nine on a three-pointer from junior Gabrielle Gibson (Amityville, N.Y./Copiague), but that was as close as the hosts would get as the Penmen pulled away for the 23-point final.

With her 34-point effort, Meredith now has 1,379 career points and is inching closer towards the top five on the Assumption all-time scoring list. Next up for Meredith is fifth-place Ann McInerney '89 at 1,406 points.

Michelle DeRoma led the Penmen with 21 points, while Sorell had an 11-point, 13-rebound double-double and 10 points from Lorreta Rocha.

With the loss, the Hounds fall to 10-3 overall and are in a four-way tie for second-place tie at 7-2 in Northeast-10 play, while the Penmen improve to 12-3 overall and 7-2 in the league. Assumption is back in action on Wednesday, January 11th as the Hounds host Stonehill College in a 5:30 p.m. start at Laska Gym.