STONY BROOK, N.Y. – The Stony Brook women's basketball team bounced back in a big way on Saturday, topping UMass Lowell by a score of 76-56 at the Island Federal Arena on Saturday afternoon to earn its first America East victory of the season.
 
Freshman G Shania Johnson (Frederick, Md.) and sophomore F India Pagan (New London, Conn.) were the 1-2 punch for the squad, with Johnson matching a season's best 28 points while Pagan notched a career-best with 20.
 
McCOMBS REACTION
"We came out hot in the first quarter but so did they. They really responded so I think that was big for us to come out. I think our effort was consistent throughout the course of the game. We're just really proud of how we responded."
 
HIGHLIGHTS

• Both teams came out firing in the first quarter with Stony Brook holding to a 24-22 lead at the first break.
• After the teams went back-and-forth to start the game, the Seawolves went on an 8-0 run to lead 14-5 after a three-pointer from redshirt sophomore F Oksana Gouchie-Provencher (Montreal, Canada).
• Pagan and Johnson filled up the stat sheet in just the first 10 minutes as Pagan tallied 12 points and Johnson had six assists. 
• The Seawolves' defense put on a clinic in both the second and fourth quarters, limiting the River Hawks to point totals of just eight (15.4 percent shooting) and seven (16.7 percent shooting). 
• The third quarter was a battle between the two teams as UMass Lowell outscored Stony Brook, 19-18. 
• Sophomore G/F Hailey Zeise (Pittsburgh, Pa.) came through clutch at the third-quarter buzzer, swishing through a three to give the Seawolves a 60-49 advantage.
• Sophomore G/F Jonae Cox (Portsmouth, Va.) also had a highlight-worthy shot in the third, converting a tough layup as she was falling to the ground with five minutes left in the period.

NOTES

• With her 28 points and 11 assists, Johnson recorded her sixth double-double of the season and was 6-of-14 from beyond the arc.
• Pagan made 10 of her 15 field goal attempts and added in four rebounds, two assists and one steal.
• Zeise was the game's leading rebounder with seven boards and freshman G Anastasia Warren tied her career high in assists with four on the day.
• Stony Brook was masterful in the paint, tallying 38 points in the lane. 
• Johnson now sits at No. 4 in program history in career three-point field goals made (144), No. 7 in career assists (290), No. 9 in double-digit scoring (since 1994-95) with 38 double-figure outings, T-7th in single-season threes made (49) and No. 9 in single-season assists (121).
• This is the ninth 70-plus point game for Stony Brook this season.
• In the Seawolves' DI era, they remain a perfect 11-0 against the River Hawks and are now 13-7 all-time. 

UP NEXT
Stony Brook hits the road for the first time in 2019, traveling to Binghamton on Wednesday, Jan. 9. Things will get underway at 7 p.m. at the Vestal Events Center.