GARDEN CITY, N.Y. (March 14, 2014) – The Franklin Pierce women's basketball team fell 69-59 to University of New Haven in the second round of the NCAA East Regional Championship on Saturday night at the Center for Recreation and Sports at Adelphi University.

With the loss, Franklin Pierce concludes its season at 19-11. New Haven improves to 25-5 and will advance to Monday night's East Regional title game, against the winner of Saturday's second semifinal, featuring Stonehill and Holy Family.

Starting the game 2-0 after a pair of free throws by senior Elizabeth Cruso, junior Natalie Bastian (Branford, Conn.) knocked in a three pointer at 17:22 to give the Ravens control of the game.

Sophomore Alison Palma (Stamford, Conn.) posted three jumpers, while junior Kara Charette (Fairhaven, Mass.) contributed two free throws, to give the Ravens a 21-13 at 9:24 in the first half.

New Haven would cut into the Raven lead over the next few minutes, coming within one point by 4:07, 25-24. Charette would post the remaining six points of the half for Pierce to give the Ravens a 31-29 edge to end the half.

Charette posted 12 points and grabbed four rebounds in the half, while Palma contributed eight points and grabbed six rebounds. Senior Aquillin Hayes posted 12 points for the Chargers and grabbed seven rebounds.

Senior Ashley LeBlanc tied the game 31-31 less than 30 seconds into the second half. The game would remain knotted up until graduate student Jessica Hurd's (Kegworth, England) jumper at 17:36 gave the Ravens back the lead.

The two teams would go basket for basket until a jumper by senior Rykema Stone at 15:40 to give the Chargers a 35-33 edge. The Chargers would begin to pull away, holding as much as a five point lead, but the Ravens would fight back.

Hurd would bring the game within one point, 43-42, off a jumper at 10:49. India Dotson would increase the Charger lead, but Hurd responded back with another jumper, followed by a three point play by Bastian to give the Ravens a two point lead, 47-45, at 8:59.

Leblanc would post the next four points for the Chargers to give them back the lead at 7:25. Hurd would cut the Charger advantage to three points, 51-49, by 5:17, however, that is the closest the Ravens would come to taking the lead for the remainder of the game.

A free throw by Leblanc at 5:03 would spark the Charger pull away, finishing the game 69-59.

Aquillin Hayes led the game with 18 points , 12 rebounds, three assists and two steals. Ashley LeBlanc added 15 points and give rebounds, while Rykema Stone put in 10 points and grabbed eight rebounds.

Kara Charette posted 14 points for the Ravens, grabbed six rebounds, and added in three assists. Natalie Bastian also posted 14 points, five rebounds, and three assists. Alison Palma added in 13 points and grabbed eight rebounds, while Jessica Hurd had points and nine rebounds. Graduate student Kate McDonald (Fall River, Mass.) had eight assists, for a total of 18 assists over the past two games. 

For more information on Franklin Pierce Athletics, please visit the official website of Franklin Pierce Athletics (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu). Also be sure to follow the Ravens through the Department of Athletics' official Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/FranklinPierceRavens), its YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/franklinpiercesports) and its Twitter feed (http://twitter.com/FPUathletics). Fans wishing to purchase Franklin Pierce women's basketball apparel can do so at the Department of Athletics' brand new online store (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu/store).