Brittany Martelle nets 14 in the setback

MANCHESTER, N.H. (December 4, 2013) -- Sophomore forward Kara Charette (Fairhaven, Mass.) dumped in a game-high 25 points for the Franklin Pierce University women's basketball team Wednesday night, but it wasn't enough to prevent an early second half run by Southern New Hampshire in the Penmen's 76-61 triumph over the Ravens in Manchester, N.H.

Franklin Pierce dropped its third straight in falling to 3-5 overall and 2-3 in the Northeast-10, while SNHU improved to 5-2 and 3-1 in conference play.

Brooke Springfield was one of four Penmen to score in double-figures, as she netted a team-high 18 points. Eight of those points highlighted a 23-7 run by SNHU in the opening nine minutes of the second half to turn a slim 34-31 lead into a 57-38 advantage.

Springfield netted six-consecutive points on three-straight possessions at one stretch by laying in a bucket and knocking down a pair of jumpers. Her jumper with 13:43 remaining extended SNHU's lead to 50-38, and Erin Doherty followed by scoring the next seven points to push the lead out to 19.

Doherty had 15 points in a reserve role for the game, including a layup with 7:12 left to make it 65-44 Southern New Hampshire. The Ravens never threatened the rest of the way.

Loretta Rocha had 17 points for SNHU on 8-of-12 shooting, while Amra Elezovic rounded out the double-digit scoring attack with 11 points.

The second half's opening surge by Southern New Hampshire was a sharp contrast to the tightly contested first half. 

Charette's work in the low post was responsible for the Ravens taking a quick 8-4 lead, but the Penmen countered with six-straight points to take a lead it would not relinquish the rest of the half.

Despite not giving up the lead, SNHU had its hands full the remainder of the stanza in taking the three-point lead into the locker room at halftime.

Senior guard Brittany Martelle (Brookfield, Conn.) dropped in a long three-pointer late in the half to pull the Ravens to within two, and her layup in the final seconds got the team to within a possession heading into intermission. She finished with 14 points for the game.

Senior backcourt mate Brooke Coderre (Woonsocket, R.I.) had an a solid all-around game to keep the Ravens close throughout the first half. She finished with eight points, six rebounds, four assists, and a pair of steals.

SNHU shot 57 percent from the field, including at a 64 percent clip in the second 20 minutes, which aided in their winning run. Franklin Pierce did not fare as well, going at a 35 percent clip for the game.

Franklin Pierce returns to action Saturday when the Ravens play host to Saint Anselm 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(.)