GARDEN CITY, N.Y. (March 5, 2015) – Junior Kara Charette's  (Fairhaven, Mass.) game high 21 points were not enough on Thursday night at the Center for Recreation and Sports. The Franklin Pierce women's basketball team, the #2 seed in the Northeast, fell to Southwest Division #1 seed Adelphi Universiry,65-54, in the Northeast-10 Semifinals. 

Although the Ravens record falls to 18-10, while remaining 13-8 in the Norteast-10, the team is expected to earn an at-large berth in the NCAA Championship East Regional. The NCAA selection show is scheduled  for 10:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 8, and can be viewed live at www.ncaa.com (.) The Panthers advance to the championship game for the second straight year in a row, and bump their record to 27-3.

Although starting out slow, the Ravens cut the six point deficit to just one point, 13-12, with just under 10 minutes to play with a jumper by graduate student Jessica Hurd (Kegworth, England). Adelphi battled back to hold their advantage until graduate student Kate McDonald (Fall River, Mass.) sunk a three a 5:20 to give the Ravens the 22-20 lead. 

Senior Kelly Mannix tied the game, while junior Tara Flynn regained the lead for the Panthers 24-22. Sophomore Jasmyne Fogle (Bridgeport, Conn.) briefly tied the game seconds later with her layup at 4:18 in the first half. The Panthers would begin their pull away with a free throw by Mannix at 4:01 and the half would end with a 33-28 lead by Adelphi.

Adelphi came out strong in the second half increasing their lead to nine points two minutes into the half, but Franklin Pierce would not give up. McDonald's three-pointer at 16:56 would bring the game within two points, 37-35.  

The Panthers would begin to pull away once again, until freshman Jemma Thacker's (Aldgate, Australia) three at 11:16 brought the game within two 45-43.

By 7:17 the Panthers led by 11. Although Charette's eight point rally for the next few minutes brought the game to 51-57 by 3:07, Adelphi would once again increase their lead to double digits at 1:55 with a set of free throws by senior Jenna Halaby, 62-51. Junior Natalie Bastian would score the remaining three points for the Ravens off a free throw, followed by a layup at the 30 second mark, but that would not be enough to stop Adelphi from the 65-54 victory.

Kelly Mannix led her team with 14 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals. Jenna Halaby and graduate student Anh-Dao Tran each had 11 points with 7 rebounds and 3 steals, and 3 rebounds 2 assists, and 1 steal respectively.

Kara Charette led the game with 21 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 assists. Jessica Hurd grabbed 9 rebounds and 8 points, with 2 assists and 2 blocks, while Kate McDonald also had 8 points with 3 rebounds and 4 assists.

The NCAA selection show is scheduled for 10:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 8^th, and can be viewed live at www.ncaa.com (.) The Ravens are expected to earn berth in the NCAA Championship East Regional. 

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).