Women's Basketball Blows by Bentley, 79-50

RINDGE, N.H. (February 24, 2015) – Four members of the Franklin Pierce women's basketball team were in double figures Tuesday night at the Fieldhouse. Graduate student Jessica Hurd (Kegworth, England) and  Junior Kara Charette (Fairhaven, Mass.) each posted a double-double,  while junior Dyamond Gardner (Cambridge, Mass.) – the lone senior honored during senior night prior to the start of the game- and junior Natalie Bastian (Branford, Conn.) also contributed double figures in the 79-50 win over the reigning NCAA Diving II National Champion, Bentley University.

With the win, the Ravens advance to 16-9 and 12-8 in Northeast-10 Conference play, while Bentley drops 11-15, and 6-14 in Northeast-10 play.

Bentley was in control of the game until Charette tied it up, 10-10, at 13:56. Gardner sealed the deal with a layup not even a minute later for the Ravens to hold the lead the remainder of the game. 

Gardner would give the Ravens their largest lead of the half at 5:12, 34-14. However, Bentley would cut into the lead, reducing the defecit to 10 points, 38-28, when the teams retreated to their locker rooms at halftime

Bentley started the half off strong, and with three point play by sophomore Jen Jemma at 16:24, the home team advantge was dropped to two points, 42-40. 

Sophomore Alison Palma (Stamford, Conn.) started the Ravens off on an eight point rally to bring the Raven lead back to double digits by 12:30, 50-40. A three point play by Gemma would once again cut into the Raven lead, bringing the game within seven, 50-43, the smallest deficit for the remainder of the game.

The Ravens went on an eight point rally led by Hurd at 11:59, but a layup by Gemma would briefly slow down the momentum bringing the game within 13 points, 58-45. Gardner answered back by starting another eight point streak, but this time the momentum would go until the buzzer.

With just under two minutes, graduate student Kate McDonald (Fall River, Mass.) gave the Ravens a 30 point lead 79-49, but senior Kelsey Mattice would hit a lone free throw at 1:04 to give the Raevns a79-50 victory. 

Jen Gemma led the game with 23 points and 7 rebounds, Jane White contributed 8 points and 5 rebounds, followed by freshman Lauren Green with 7 points.

Jessica Hurd posted an 18-point, 10 rebound double-double, with 2 assists, a block and a steal, while Kate McDonald Had a 16-point, 11 rebound double-double adding in 2 assists, a block and 2 steals. Natalie Bastian had 15 points , 4 rebounds, and an assist, with Dyamond Gardner having 12 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, and 4 steals. Alison Palma had 8 points and 11 rebounds, with a block and an assist,  and Kate McDonald also had 8 points with 2 rebounds and 6 assists.

The Ravens are home in the first game of post-season play on Sunday, March 1^st to host Southern Connecticut State in the quarter finals. Game time is yet to be announced. 

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).