HAMPTON, VA. -- Khari Clark, Sherese Pittman and Shamarla King each grabbed double-digit rebounds to help lead the Stony Brook women's basketball team past the Hampton Lady Pirates on the road Thursday, clinching their first-ever outright CAA Regular Season Championship.
The Seawolves (24-3, 15-2 CAA) had four players score in double figures, led by Pittman, who put together a double-double with 15 points and 14 rebounds. Clark tacked on a double-double with 13 points and 14 rebounds and Gigi Gonzalez chipped in as well with 13 points and seven rebounds. Led by Clark's six offensive rebounds, Stony Brook crashed the offensive glass, pulling down 20 boards that resulted in 21 second chance points. The 70 total rebounds by Stony Brook tied a CAA record dating back to 1997.
Also, Stony Brook's defense held Hampton to only 19.2 percent shooting from the field, including 0 percent from beyond the arc.
With the victory, the Seawolves secured the No. 1 seed in the CAA Tournament next week in Washington, D.C.
HOW IT HAPPENED
After falling behind 10-8, Stony Brook went on a 6-0 run with 1:52 left in the first quarter, culminating in a three from Victoria Keenan, to take a 14-10 lead, a score that would hold for the rest of the period. Stony Brook relied on its three-point shooting in the period, knocking down four shots to account for 12 of its 14 points, led by Keenan with three in the quarter.
Stony Brook built that first quarter lead to 25-19 before going on a 7-0 run starting at the 5:30 mark in the second period, highlighted by a three from Zaida Gonzalez, to increase its lead to 32-19. The Seawolves kept that lead for the remainder of the period and enjoyed a 34-21 advantage heading into halftime. Stony Brook dominated in the paint, scoring 14 of its 20 points close to the basket as Pittman, Clark and King combined for 11 points in the frame.
The Seawolves wasted no time building on its lead, going on a 12-0 run, punctuated by a basket from Pittman, to expand its lead further to 46-21 with 3:49 to go in the third. Before the third period was over, the Seawolves added four points to that lead and entered the fourth quarter with a 54-25 edge. Stony Brook capitalized on chances near the basket, scoring 10 of its 20 points in the paint.
The squad kept its lead intact before going on an 8-0 run to grow the lead to 66-30 with 1:59 to go in the contest. The Seawolves held onto that lead for the rest of the game for the 71-35 win. Stony Brook took advantage of its opportunities in the post, scoring 10 of its 17 points in the paint.
STATS AND NOTES
- The 70 rebounds tied a CAA single-game record originally set by VCU in 1997. It was also tied for the fifth most of any team in the NCAA this season.
- The Seawolves put together a stellar defensive performance, holding the Pirates to only 19.2 percent shooting from the field. It was the lowest percentage the Seawolves have allowed against any opponent since they surrendered 11.1% against Iona on Nov. 13, 2015.
- The Seawolves never trailed after taking a 14-10 first quarter lead.
- Stony Brook did not allow a three-pointer on 11 attempts. It was the first time since Feb. 6, 2017 against UMass Lowell that the squad did not allow any three pointers.
- The Stony Brook bench made an impact by scoring 22 points to its scoring output, led by 11 from Keenan.
- Stony Brook had a 70-35 edge on the boards in the win.
- Stony Brook cleaned up on the offensive glass, collecting 20 offensive boards in the game. The 20 offensive rebounds marked a new season-high and the most since the squad had 20 against Hofstra on Jan. 1, 2023.
- Pittman led the Seawolves with 15 points and 14 rebounds. She has double-double in two of her last four games and is average 21.0 points and 10.8 rebounds per game over that stretch.
- Clark finished with her team-leading seventh double-double of the season by tallying 13 points and 14 rebounds.
- King grabbed 11 rebounds, which tied her season-best (11 at Delaware on Jan. 14)
- Stony Brook moves to 3-0 all-time against Hampton.
- With the victory, Stony Brook clinches the outright CAA Regular Season Championship and the No. 1 seed in the CAA Tournament,
QUOTES FROM THE SEAWOLVES
"I am so proud of this team and program," head coach Ashley Langford said after the victory. "It's nice to see all of our hard work come to fruition."
UP NEXT
The Seawolves will return to the court on Saturday for their regular season finale in Williamsburg, Virginia, as the squad will battle William & Mary at 1 p.m. Stony Brook is 1-0 all-time against the Tribe in their only meeting all time (Dec. 30, 2022).
