RINDGE, N.H. (February 18, 2017) – The Franklin Pierce University women's basketball team wrapped up their home slate of games with a 56-39 setback at the hands of Northeast-10 Conference opponent Merrimack College on Saturday afternoon in The Fieldhouse. With the win, the Warriors improve to 12-13, 10-10 NE10 and the loss was the 22nd of the year for the Ravens.

This afternoon against Merrimack was the sixth game of the women's team Coaches vs. Cancer 3-Point Challenge. FPU converted 3-of-13 (23.1%) from long range meaning $43.50 has been donated to the American Cancer Society. Since the challenge began two weeks ago, the Crimson and Grey have gone 30-of-96 (31.3%) from deep and have amassed a total of $435.00 to the ACS. To make a pledge for the Coaches vs. Cancer 3-Point Challenge please click here.

In a pregame ceremony, the women's team honored their four seniors, Mikayla Deguire (Watervilet, N.Y.), Dana Campbell (Merrick, N.Y.), Alison Palma (Stamford, Conn.) and Jasmyne Fogle (Bridgeport, Conn.) for their contributions to the university and its athletic department.

Sophomore guard Sara Middleton (Barrington, R.I.) paced the Raven offense with eight points, two rebounds, two steals and one assist. Campbell, Jemma Thacker (Nairne, South Australia) and Cameryn Wilson (Newport News, Va.) all scored seven points apiece. Deguire added six points, a game-high 10 rebounds and Kelsey Mayo (Oakland, Maine) tallied four points, 10 boards, two assists and one block.

For the Warriors, Lexi Martin poured in a game-best 16 points. My'Asia Alston was the only other player in double figures with 15 points to go along with three rebounds, three assists and three thefts. Karlee Alves added nine points, four caroms, three steals and two assists as well.

The Ravens struggled to defend the paint in the contest as the guests outscored the hosts 38-to-12 down low. FPU also lost the turnover battle 22-to-14 and Merrimack chalked up 12 steals to the Ravens four.

The first quarter saw Martin score the opening points by driving down low for a layup. A few seconds later, Thacker gave the hosts their first lead in the contest after Deguire threw a pass from the post to Thacker on the right wing and the junior guard drained the three-ball. Both teams continued to trade points up until the end of the quarter as Wilson hit a corner three off an offensive rebound and feed by Mayo to move FPU ahead 14-12 after one. Merrimack scored all 12 of their first quarter points in the paint.

Two jumpers in a row by Alves moved Merrimack ahead by two, 16-14. FPU responded with five straight points on a Wilson baseline jumper, a Deguire free throw and a Mayo lay-in off an offensive board after the second missed Deguire freebie which pushed FPU ahead by three, 19-16. A few minutes passed until Middleton stole the rock away from Akyssa Torres and Middleton drove from three quarters court to the rack for a layup. Middleton's make forced Merrimack into a 30 second timeout.

Following the stoppage, a Martin freebie and an Alston floater in the paint with 54 ticks left regained the advantage, 25-23 to the guest's side at the intermission.

The Warriors outshot the Ravens 41.4% to 28.6% in the first half of play, but the Ravens converted three shots from long range and four free throws compared to zero for Merrimack to keep them within one possession.

Alston swished home a trey from the right wing with 8:18 left in the third and increased the Merrimack lead to five 28-23. A Middleton floater at the 6:55 mark brought the Raven deficit to four, 30-26 and on the next FPU possession, Deguire split another pair of free throws to make it a three point game.

The Warriors countered with six consecutive points with two Martin freebies sandwiched in between two Alston layups that increased the Merrimack lead to nine points, 36-27 with 4:01 left. Campbell and Wilson ended the period for the Ravens with two driving floaters in the lane to cut the Merrimack lead to 36-31.

The fourth quarter wasn't kind to the Ravens as Merrimack began the final frame with a game changing 15-2 scoring binge with 12 of the 15 points coming from the low post. The Warriors turned a five point lead to an 18 point advantage with under four minutes to play. The 18 point lead was a big enough cushion for the guests as they held on for a 56-39 win.

The Ravens wrap up their season on Tuesday when they head to NE10 opponent Assumption for a 5:30 p.m. tip-off.

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' online store (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu/store).