GOFFSTOWN - Early reviews are in for the Southern New Hampshire University women's basketball team: more weapons, better defense, improved shooting and Sloane Sorrell is still here.

Sorrell took control of the first half and finished with 18 points, leading the Penmen to a 59-45 win against rival St. Anselm College at Stoutenburgh Gym on Tuesday night.

The senior forward stole a pass and raced coast to coast for a layup, ending the first half with a highlight that would make any guard proud - and Sorrell is 6-foot-1. SNHU took a 30-20 lead into halftime and didn't stop there.

Brooke Springfield, Michelle DeRoma and Victoria Wiseman opened the second half with 3-pointers and soon the Penmen were up by 21 points. Wiseman had 16 points as SNHU improved to 2-0. Springfield, a Conant of Jaffrey product, played a team-high 33 minutes at point guard and attempted just one shot (a swish).

St. Anselm struggled to find open looks against the SNHU defense and shot only 31 percent from the floor. Sorrell, a Player of the Year candidate, had five steals and two blocks in a brilliant performance.

"She's talented. She's focused. You can see it. She's a senior on a mission," SNHU coach Karen Pinkos said.

Sorrell's inside presence helped open up the perimeter for Wiseman, a New Hampton School product, who sank seven of 10 shots from the floor. Kelly Chergey of Bow came off the bench and grabbed rebounds. Lorretta Rocha cleaned the glass with six defensive boards. Deb LaValley, a Spaulding of Rochester graduate, added six points.

Briana Jones led St. Anselm with 13 points, and Krista O'Gara scored 12 as the Hawks dropped to 2-2 overall and 0-2 in the NE-10. A conventional three-point play from O'Gara gave the Hawks an early 10-7 lead. The hosts, however, went scoreless for the final six minutes of the first half. SNHU ended the half on an 11-0 run.

"We had a couple days to prepare for this game and really concentrated on defense. That's our strength," Pinkos said.

SNHU opened the season with an overtime win at St. Michael's and followed that with an impressive defeat of rival St. A. Next up for the Penmen is Sunday's non-conference home opener against Chestnut Hill at 1:30 p.m. The Hawks host Chestnut Hill on Saturday at 3 p.m.