SETTERS TURN UP THE DEFENSE; CRUISE PAST NEW HAVEN FOR THIRD WIN IN A ROW
SHIELDS POSTS FIFTH STRAIGHT DOUBLE-DOUBLE IN VICTORY

PLEASANTVILLE, NY- The Setters turned up the defense limiting the University of New Haven to 24.3% shooting for the game as Pace picked up their third straight victory in an 83-59 thumping over the Chargers. Brittany Shields (Cold Spring, NY/Haldane) posted her fifth consecutive double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds as the Setters moved into second place in the Northeast-10 Conference. The Setters improve to 7-3 and 4-2 in the NE-10, while the Chargers drop to 8-4 and 4-4 in conference play.

The Setters took control early as a slim 8-6 lead five minutes into the game quickly ballooned to a 27-7 advantage over the next six minutes as Pace's 19-1 stretch was led by a pair of triples by Courtney Keegan (North Arlington, NJ/Queen of Peace) (North Arlington, NJ/ Queen of Peace). Lisa Welsome (Staten Island, NY/St. Peter's) (Staten Island, NY/St. Peter's) chipped in a trifecta and a pair of free throws in the run as the Setters rolled into the break with a 44-23 lead at halftime. The Setters' 44 points was the most in the first half this season as they shot a blistering 58.6% (17-for-29) over the first 20 minutes of action, while holding the Chargers to 23.1% shooting for the half.

Pace continued their dominance in the second half as they slightly cooled down to 52.0% shooting over the final period compared to New Haven's 25.7% shooting for the half. The Chargers would get as close at 16 points midway through the second half but the game was never in doubt as the Setters would cruise to their third straight victory to claim sole possession of second place in the NE-10. The Setters won easily despite losing the rebounding margin 44-41 and New Haven dominated the offensive rebounds 29-10 over Pace. The Chargers also has less turnovers with 19, compared to 24 for the Setters. It was the patented Setter defense combined with outstanding shooting inside and outside that keyed the victory for Pace.

For Pace, Welsome led the Setters with 20 points, connecting on 4-of-7 from the outside to go along with four assists. Shields had one of her best all-around games as a Setter, finishing with 16 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, four steals and four blocks. Keegan added 10 points for the Setters, while Shiesha McCollum (Newburgh, NY/ Washingtonville) chipped in seven points and eight rebounds.

For New Haven, Dominique Stellmacher came off the bench to lead the Chargers with 13 points, while grabbing six boards. Helin Marte totaled 11 points and eight rebounds, while Natasha Pierre-Louis chipped in nine points and eight caroms.

The Setters return to action on Tuesday, January 6 when Pace will host Assumption College in a Northeast-10 Conference game slated for a 5:30 pm tip-off at the Goldstein Fitness Center on Pace's Pleasantville campus.