NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. (February 21, 2015) – With just two seconds on the clock, the game was within three points with a three pointer by junior Natalie Bastian (Branford, Conn.), however it would not be enough for the Franklin Pierce Women's Basketball team on Saturday afternoon. Merrimack College held the Ravens to under 50 points, which has not been done since a loss to Stonehill College (70-47) on November 20^th 2012. Franklin Pierce ends their four game winning streak with a 53-49 loss at Hammel Court in Northeast-10 Conference play.

With the loss, the Ravens fall to 16-9 overall, with a 12-8 record in the Northeast-10, while Merrimack advances to 13-12, with a  9-11 record in the Northeast-10.

After the first half ending 17-9,  with the Merrimack advantage, the Ravens went on a nine point rally at the start of the second half to bring the game within one point, 19-18, at 16:24. Junior Kara Charette (Fairhaven, Mass.) contributed five points to the rally, with graduate student Jessica Hurd (Kegworth, England) added in a layup, ending with a set of free throws by Bastian.  

Junior Allison Wagner's three pointer increased the Warrior lead to seven with just over 12 minutes to play. Sophomore Jasmyn Fogel (Bridgeport, Conn.) brought the game back within five, 27-22, with her layup, but freshman Caitlyn Garger responded back quickly with a jumper. Graduate student Kate McDonald (Fall River, Mass.) kept the game within five with her jumper at 10:30, 29-24.

By 8:33 Merrimack had a nine point lead, but with back to back three pointers by junior Dyamond Gardner (Cambridge, Mass.) and freshman Jemma Thacker (Aldgate, Australia), the game was back within three points by 6:27, 37-34.

Merrimack would begin a brief pullaway leading by seven at 4:13, but Charette's back to back jumpers brought the game to 43-40 at just over three minutes to play.

With just under a minute to play, Hurd's layup brought the Ravens within one point, 47-46. Junior Chloe Rothman  nabbed a three, at 23 seconds to play, followed by a pair of free throws by Wagner at nine seconds to secure the lead for the Warriors. However, the Ravens would not give up, and Bastian nailed a three with just two seconds on the clock, 52-49. With just a second on the clock, Wagner's final free throw would give the Warriors a 53-49 win.

Junior Cassi Amenta had 11 point, 5 rebounds, followed by Chloe Rothman with 9 points, 2 rebounds, and 3 assists.

Kara Charette had 18 points with 9 rebounds and 2 steals and Natalie Bastian had 9 points with 3 rebounds.  

The Ravens return to the Fieldhouse on Tuesday for Senior Day and their final regular season game to take on Bentley  in Conference play at 5:30 p.m.

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).