OLD WESTBROOK, N.Y. (February 16,2014) – Five members of the Franklin Pierce women's basketball team were in double digits to aide in the 97-86 win against New York Institute of Technology (NYIT) on Monday afternoon. Junior Kara Charette (Fairhaven, Mass.) had a career high of 30 points, while freshman Jemma Thacker (Aldgate, Australia) posted a career high of 20 points.

Franklin Pierce increases their record to 15-8, while staying 11-7 in Northeast-10 Conference play, while NYIT falls to 16-7 while remaining 11-4 in the East Coast Conference.

The Ravens took control of the game within the first five seconds of the game and by 12:49 in the first half they led by 10, 19-9, with Thacker's three. A minute later, freshman Nina Vukosavljevic brought the game within seven points with a three, but Thacker sunk another three to keep the Ravens at a double digit advantage.

NYIT continued to cut into the double digit advantage over the next few minutes, with 5:10 left in the first half, junior Natalie Bastian's (Branford, Conn.) three pointer would give the Ravens a 12 point lead, 38-26. The team would hold their double digit lead for the remainder of the half, with the score 46-35 at the sound of the buzzer.

Sophomore Sofi Georgiadi's jumper followed by Vukosavljevic's pair of free throws brought the game back within seven points, 46-39. Graduate student Kate McDonald (Fall River, Mass.) and Thacker each sunk a three pointer to bring the game to 52-39 by 17:49.

Sophomore Julie Williams' set of free throws at 11:02 made it a nine point game 65-56. Thacker's three followed by junior Dyamond Gardner's (Cambridge, Mass.) free throws brought the game to 73-60. Sophomore Shanice Allen responded with a three to bring the game within 10.

The game was within five points by 6:58 with free throws by sophomore Shannon Duer, 76-71. Bastian's three at 3:08 to give the Ravens a 15 point lead, 90-75.

With just under a minute, Duer's free throw would bring the game within eight points, but by the final buzzer the Ravens grabbed the 97-83 win.

Julie Williams had 19 points with 5 rebounds and 5 assists, with 2 steals. Nina Vukosavljevic had 15 points and 2 assists and 3 rebounds, while Shanice Allen had 15 points with 3 assists and 2 rebounds.  Shannon Duer had 14 points and 7 rebounds, with sophomore Audrey Knowlton adding in 10 points and 4 rebounds.  

Kara Charette had a career high of 30 points with 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 blocks. Jemma Thacker had a career high of 20 points with 3 rebounds and 1 steal. Dyamond Gardner added in 16 points with 9 rebounds, 8 assists, 3 steals, and 1 block, Natalie Bastian posted 11 points with 3 rebounds and 3 assists, while graduate student Jessica Hurd (Kegworth, England) added 10 points with 5 rebounds and 1 steal.

The Ravens return to action at their home court on Wednesday to take on Stonehill in Northeast-10 Conference play at 5:30. 

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).