Worcester, Mass. (February 24) -- On Senior Night, the Assumption College women's basketball team clinched the No. 3 seed in the Northeast-10 Tournament with a 65-52 home win over Southern New Hampshire University at Laska Gym. The Hounds end the regular season tied with Merrimack, but win the tiebreaker over the Warriors and clinch the opening-round bye.

Prior to the start of tonight's game, the team recognized senior captain Caitlin Ackerman (Nashua, N.H./Nashua) for her contributions to the program during her four-year career.

The teams started out evenly over the opening moments with the Hounds taking an 8-6 lead on a three from the right wing by sophomore Kelly Carey (Long Beach, N.Y./Holy Trinity) 15:43 left. The Penmen led by as many as five on two occasions, including at 17-12 on a layup from Catherine Stinson midway thru the half. The Hounds answered with an 18-6 run though, capped by a three from sophomore Allison Stoddard (East Lyme, Conn./East Lyme), to stake the hosts to a 30-23 lead with 1:38 left in the period. A three-point play just 16 seconds later from Olivia Conrad closed the Penmen to within four at 30-26, which is where the game stood after 20 minutes.

The Hounds shot 38.7 percent from the field in the half while forcing eight turnovers, along with a 26-19 rebounding advantage.

In the second with the game tied at 32-32 early on, the Hounds put together a 12-0 run over a stretch of just over four minutes for a commanding 44-32 lead at the 13:56 mark. The Penmen closed the lead back down to five at 46-41 and continued to trail by just five at 50-45 with 9:11 remaining after two Vic Wiseman free throws. A critical play at the 7:55 mark swung the game back into double digits for the Hounds though as junior Kelly Conley (Ellington, Conn./Ellington) knocked down a three and on the play, sophomore Jaclyn Storey (Cumberland, Maine/Greely) was fouled. Storey went to the line for two and knocked them both down to complete the five-point swing and give the Hounds a 55-45 advantage.

Assumption maintained a double-digit lead over the remainder of the game, including by as many as 18 points at 65-47 with 2:49 left after a three from the right wing from Carey. With the 13-point win, the Hounds earned the regular-season series split with the Penmen and win for the third time in the last four games.

Ackerman led the Hounds with a career-high 23-point outing as she was 8-for-14 from the field and 7-of-8 at the line. Stoddard and Conley added 12 points each as well as the team shot 41.4 percent from the field and finished with a 47-39 rebounding advantage.

For the Penmen, Stinson finished with a team-leading 13 points to go along with 11 points from Wiseman.

With the win, Assumption closes the regular season at 15-11 overall and 10-11 in Northeast-10 play, while SNHU's season comes to a close at 11-17 overall and 5-16 in the league.

Assumption is back in action on Sunday, March 1st as the Hounds travel to the University of New Haven for a Northeast-10 Conference Tournament Quarterfinal matchup with the Chargers.

For the latest on Assumption College Athletics, follow the Hounds via social media on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. For more information, contact the Office of Athletic Communications at 508-767-7240.