Manchester, N.H. (December 10) -- In Northeast-10 Conference action on Wednesday night, the Assumption College women's basketball team dropped a 69-54 final to Southern New Hampshire at the SNHU Fieldhouse. Assumption is ranked No. 22 in this week's USA Today Division II National Poll and No. 13 in the latest D2SIDA Division II National rankings.

The Penmen took the lead from the outset and built to a 10-3 edge with 15:48 left following a layup from Erin Doherty. Following a media timeout, SNHU made it a double-digit advantage on a jumper from Victoria Wiseman and a putback by Doherty for the 14-3 advantage. A layup from Hounds freshman Teneya McLaughlin (Milford, Conn./Joseph A.Foran) cut the lead back to single digits moments later, but the Penmen maintained a double-digit lead. SNHU led by as many as 17 at 27-10 with 8:06 left in the first half before the Hounds closed the period on an 11-2 run.

Senior Caitlin Ackerman (Nashua, N.H./Nashua South) got the run started on a baseline jumper and the Hounds made it a single-digit game on a fastbreak layup by sophomore Kelly Carey (Long Beach, N.Y./Holy Trinity). That play was set up by a pass from junior Kelly Conley (Ellington, Conn./Ellington), who forced a Penmen turnover earlier in the possession. The Penmen briefly pushed the lead back to double digits, but the Hounds used three straight points from Conley to end the half to send the game into the break at 29-21.

Assumption shot 28.6 percent from the field in the half, while Southern New Hampshire connected on 40 percent of its shots.

Ackerman cut the lead down to six with a jumper off the glass just 1:03 into the second, but the Penmen extended the lead back to 10 at 35-25 on a three from the corner by Catherine Stinson. Trailing by 11 with 17:25 left, a free throw by Conley and a putback by Ackerman made it 36-28 heading into the first media timeout of the second period. The lead stayed between nine and 11 points heading into the final five minutes of the game, including at 50-41 on an Ackerman jumper with 5:31 remaining.

After a turnaround jumper by Doherty put the Penmen back ahead by double figures, the hosts led by as many as 15 at 56-41. A three from the right side by Carey cut the SNHU edge down to 56-44 with 3:30 on the clock, but the Penmen quickly answered with a corner three by Sara Ryan. The Hounds managed to cut the lead down to 10 on a number of occasions, but could get no closer as the Penmen took the 15-point victory.

Ackerman led the Hounds with a 16-point, 16-rebound double-double, while Conley also finished in double figures with 12 points. For the Penmen, four players were in double figures as SNHU was led by a 14-point effort from Wiseman. Stinson and Ryan added 12 each, along with 10 from Brooke Springfield.

For the game, the Hounds shot 35 percent from the field and the Penmen connected on 43.3 percent of their shots.

With the loss, Assumption drops to 7-2 overall and 4-2 in the Northeast-10, while the Penmen improve to 4-6 overall and 1-5 in league play.

Assumption is now idle until Friday, December 19th as the Hounds travel to the University of Bridgeport for a 5 p.m. start.

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