NORTH EASTON, MASS. – Despite erasing an 11-point deficit and claiming a narrow lead late in the fourth quarter, the Pace University women's basketball team was defeated on the road Tuesday night, dropping a 62-55 contest to Stonehill College. The Setters fall to 10-10 on the year, while their record against the Northeast-10 Conference moves to 7-6.

Inside the Numbers
*Jackie DelliSanti (Commack, NY/Commack) led the Pace offense with 15 points, her highest scoring total in the last nine games. DelliSanti shot six-for-11 from the field on the night, and got the Pace offense started early by scoring the team's first eight points.

*Gabriella Rubin (Staten Island, NY/Moore Catholic) and Lauren Schetter (Beacon, NY/Beacon High School) scored 10 points each to round out the top scorers for the Blue and Gold. Rubin, making her seventh appearance of the season, came up big for the Setters late, as the senior co-captain connected on two three-pointers in the fourth quarter. Meanwhile, Schetter recorded her fourth double-double of her rookie campaign, adding 11 rebounds to her docket for the night.

*Finishing behind Schetter on the rebound front was DelliSanti with seven and junior Kristina Olikhver (Moscow, Russia/Saint Andrew's) with four.

*The Pace defense was able to limit the damage done by the explosive Stonehill offense, which entered the night second in the conference with 71.3 points per game. The Setters held the Skyhawks to 62 points, tying Stonehill's second-lowest point total of the year.

*The Setters turned the ball over just seven times, setting a new season-low.

How it Happened
Despite Stonehill opening the game on a 7-2 run, the first quarter was quickly taken over by DelliSanti. The sophomore guard opened up the scoring with Pace's first eight points with a perfect three-of-three start to the night, while hauling in five rebounds in the first five minutes of the contest. Pace scored 11 unanswered points to go up 13-7 with three minutes left in the quarter. Stonehill would finish the quarter on a 7-2 run to cut the Setters' lead down to just one at 15-14 to begin the second.

Both offenses matched each other stride for stride to open up the second quarter, as both teams scored six points apiece in the first four minutes. The Skyhawks shooters would soon begin to build some distance from Pace however, scoring seven straight points to take their first lead of the quarter at 27-21. The Setters would pull back to within two in the final minute, but five points from Courtney Walsh, including a three-pointer in the closing seconds, would send the Skyhawks into halftime up 34-28.

Stonehill began the second half on a 6-2 run to push their lead up to 40-30 in the first three minutes of the third. The Setters defense would limit the Skyhawks to just five points for the remainder of the period, but the Blue and Gold offense was unable to find much success themselves, scoring a total of eight points in the third. The low-scoring opener to the second half sent the Skyhawks into the fourth quarter ahead 45-36.

Pace did not hesitate to begin their comeback charge, shooting three-of-three from beyond the arc in the first three minutes to pull to within one, 46-45. Rubin led the charge with the first two deep balls. The Setters would continue to ride the momentum, claiming their first lead of the half at 47-46 with a layup from Iliana Krasniqi (Fairfield, CT/Fairfield Warde) with six and a half minutes left on the clock. Stonehill and Pace would trade the lead three times over the ensuing two minutes, eventually playing to a 52-52 score with just over two minutes remaining.

The Setters would take the lead 55-54 after a layup and free throw from DelliSanti, but Stonehill responded with five quick points. Pace was unable to replicate their success from deep that they had earlier in the quarter, failing to connect on their last four attempts from beyond the arc. Sent to the foul line late, the Skyhawks sank three free throws to secure the 62-55 final.

Up Next
The Setters look to get back into the win column when they return home this weekend. Pace will host No. 5 Bentley University at the Goldstein Fitness Center at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday.