EASTON, MA – The Pace University women's basketball team battled back from a double-digit second half deficit to cut the Stonehill lead to four during the final two minutes, but were upended by the Skyhawks 76-68 in a Northeast-10 Conference matchup.

The Setters (2-12, 1-7 NE-10) were led by 20 points from junior Margo Hackett (Pawling, NY/Pawling) (Pawling, NY/Pawling). Freshman Shanice Allen (Riverhead, NY/Riverhead) (Riverhead, NY/Riverhead) netted 14 in the contest, 11 in the second half as part of her third consecutive double-figure scoring effort. Sophomore Yuni Sher (Poughkeepsie, NY/Long Island Lutheran) recorded her second straight double-double behind 11 points and 10 rebounds.

After Stonehill (9-4, 6-3 NE-10) jumped out to a 19-9 lead in the first 7:30 of the game, Pace rallied, going on an 18-7 run during the next 5:32 to take a 27-26 lead with 7:58 to go in the frame. The two squads battled evenly through the remainder of the half with the Setters taking a 40-38 lead into the locker room. Pace shot 53.1% from the field in the first half and turned the ball over just five times.

In the second stanza, the Skyhawks started off hot scoring 22 of the first 27 points to take a 60-45 lead midway through the half. Undaunted, the Setters worked their comeback. Pace cut the lead under 10 on a layup by Sher with 3:30 remaining and back-to-back buckets from Hackett and Allen sliced the advantage to 72-68 with 1:16 to go before Stonehill pulled away at the line down the stretch.

Pace is in action next on Tuesday, January 14 when they head to Manchester, NH to take on Southern New Hampshire in a Northeast-10 Conference tilt. Tipoff is set for 5:30 pm.