Kara Charette tosses in team-high 22 points, including 16 free throws

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (January 9, 2013) -- The Franklin Pierce University women's basketball team used an impressive shooting performance Wednesday night to take down Southern Connecticut State, 83-68, at Moore Field House in New Haven, Conn. The Ravens won their third straight to improve to 8-4 overall and 5-3 in the Northeast-10, while SoCo fell to 4-7 and 1-7 in league play.

Franklin Pierce was a blistering 61 percent (28-of-46) from the field, but was even better behind the arc as the Ravens went 11-of-16 (69 percent) from three-point range. It marked the second-straight game the Ravens shot better than 60 percent behind the arc as they turned in a 12-of-20 effort in Sunday's win over Saint Michael's.

A trio of Ravens scored in double-figures, including a team-high 22 points from freshman forward Kara Charette (Fairhaven, Mass.). She dropped in just three baskets, but went an impressive 16-of-21 from the free throw line. Charette also grabbed eight rebounds, blocked two shots and dished out a pair of assists to go along with her high point total. 

Junior guard Brittany Martelle (Brookfield, Conn.) came off the bench to go an impressive 8-of-10 from the floor -- including an eye-popping 4-of-4 from three-point range -- and net 20 points. Her first three of the game helped spark the Ravens to rally to victory.

Senior guard Tiffany Johnson (St. Albans, Vt.) followed with 16 points, which came just one game after she logged a career-high of 26 points versus St. Mike's. Johnson was an impressive 7-of-11 from the field with four rebounds, four helpers and three steals.

Jackie Bethea led four double-digit scorers for the Owls as she dropped in a game-high 23 points. 

Franklin Pierce was lethargic through the opening minutes of the game and Southern Connecticut took advantage by scoring 12 of the first 16 points and eventually building a 33-23 lead with 5:49 remaining until halftime. Katie Stopera's jumper gave the Owls the double-digit lead and the Ravens were reeling.

But just as quickly as they fell behind, Franklin Pierce rallied and Martelle settled the Ravens down with a three-pointer moments later to spark a run of six-straight possessions with a field goal. 

Johnson laid in a basket during each of the next two trips down the court, junior guard Kate McDonald (Fall River, Mass.) bombed in a trey, Martelle put in a layup and Charette capped it with a basket at the 1:55 mark to lift the Ravens to a 36-35 lead.

Martelle pumped in a pair of three-pointers in the final 90 seconds to send the Ravens into the locker room with a 42-37 lead at halftime.

The Ravens kept coming in the early stages of the second half and another Martelle deep trey a little more than four minutes in pushed the lead out to 10 at 55-45.

The Owls, however, fought back with 10-straight points, keyed by five points from Camille Fantini, to knot the score.

Again, Franklin Pierce had to rally and it did by going on a 14-3 run during the ensuing six minutes to build a 69-58 advantage. Charette scored the first four points of the run and capped it with a pair of free throws, while Johnson added to it with a three of her own.

Southern Connecticut could not make a serious run the rest of the way. The Owls were able to cut it to six at 72-66 with 4:00 left on a Nicole Grossbard layup, but the Ravens answered with eight-consecutive points to extend their lead to 14 and cruise in the rest of the way for the victory.

Franklin Pierce, defensively, did a solid job by limiting SoCo to just 35 percent shooting from the field and forcing the Owls into 18 turnovers. The teams tied in rebounding with 34 boards apiece.

The Ravens return to action Saturday when they play host to Le Moyne at 1:30 p.m. in The Fieldhouse in Rindge.

For more information on Franklin Pierce women's basketball, please visit the team's page at athletics.franklinpierce.edu(.) To follow the program even further, please visit Franklin Pierce Athletics on YouTube (www.youtube.com/FranklinPierceSports), Twitter (www.twitter.com/FPUathletics) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/FranklinPierceRavens). Fans wishing to purchase Franklin Pierce women's basketball apparel can do so on the athletic department's online store at athletics.franklinpierce.edu/store(.)