Ravens get 13 points apiece from Charette and Gardner

EASTON, Mass. (November 20, 2012) – The Franklin Pierce University women’s basketball team fell behind early to Stonehill on Tuesday and could not catch up as the Ravens dropped a 70-47 decision at Merkert Gymnasium in Easton, Mass. Franklin Pierce fell to 2-2 overall and 0-2 in the Northeast-10, while the Skyhawks ran their record to 4-0 and 2-0 in league play.

Freshman forward Kara Charette (Fairhaven, Mass.) and sophomore guard Dyamond Gardner (Cambridge, Mass.) each dropped in a team-high 13 points for the Ravens. It marked the fourth-straight game Charette logged double-figures in scoring, while it was Gardner’s second outing this season she notched double-digits.

However, those 13 points apiece could not come soon enough as Stonehill raced out to a 13-0 lead six minutes into the game and never had to look back in picking up the victory. Asia Ewing, who was one of four Skyhawks to score in double-figures as she pumped in 13 points, highlighted the opening surge with seven points, including a three-pointer. Tori Faieta, who dropped in 13 points of her own and grabbed eight rebounds, added to the run with a pair of layups.

Franklin Pierce tried to dig out of the early hole and a Gardner triple with 8:36 remaining in the half pulled the Ravens to within 11 at 19-8. Stonehill, however, was quick to counter and scored 11 consecutive points and eventually took a commanding 32-12 lead into the locker room at halftime.

Ashley Gendron then got into the scoring act for the Skyhawks in the second half as she scored 10 of her game-high 14 points in the frame, while also pulling down 10 boards to log a double-double. Stonehill led by as many as 26 points in the second half before cruising in for the victory. Amy Pelletier was Stonehill’s other double-digit scorer with 10 points.

Franklin Pierce struggled shooting the ball in the game as the Ravens connected on just 31 percent (18-of-58) of their attempts. Stonehill, on the other hand, shot a blistering 54 percent (27-of-50) from the field, including knocking down 7-of-12 three-point attempts for a 58 percent clip. The Skyhawks also held a 46-22 advantage on the glass.

The one statistical area where Franklin Pierce had the advantage was forcing Stonehill into 20 turnovers and collecting 14 steals. Senior forward Amanda Saab (Windham, N.H.) swiped a team-best three steals, while Gardner, senior guard Tiffany Johnson (St. Albans, Vt.) and junior forward Caitlin Hopkins (Holtsville, N.Y.) collected a pair of thefts.

Franklin Pierce returns to action next Wednesday when the Ravens play host to in-state rival Southern New Hampshire at 5:30 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(.)