Women’s Basketball Falls Short In 65-57 Loss at Dominican (N.Y.)

ORANGEBURG, N.Y. (11/19/22) – Franklin Pierce discovered their rhythm late in the contest, but were unable to pull even with host Dominican University (N.Y.) in a 65-57 non-conference loss to open the 9^th annual Regina Rivera Memorial Tournament.

The road loss drops the Ravens to 1-3 (0-1 NE10) overall on the season, as Dominican pulls to an even 2-2 record with the victory.

The Chargers rushed out of the gate to a 14-4 lead in the opening quarter, on their way to a commanding 22-9 lead after one. Freshman guard Kenzie Sirowich (Seymour, Conn.) led the limited offense with four points in the period for the Ravens, who as a team shot 22.2 percent (2-of-9) from the floor with five free throws. Defensively, the Ravens were able to pull down nine defensive rebounds, but were unable to translate them to offensive chances.

The start to the second frame was relatively quiet for both squads, matched each other on the scoreboard with alternating scoring drives through the first five minutes. However, the Ravens offense finally awakened for a 10-3 scoring run through the final three minutes, which including seven points from freshman Leana Heitmann (Pompey, N.Y.). Franklin Pierce would head to the locker room trailing 36-27, but would shoot an improved 46.2 percent (6-of-13) on field goals, while  holding the Chargers down to only 35.7 percent (5-14) with no trips to the free-throw line.  

The second half saw the Chargers attempt to pull away with six of the first eight points scored, extending their lead to 42-29. However, freshman center Sara Macary (Naugatuck, Conn.) had other plans with consecutive layups to keep the Ravens in the running, both off of Kenzie Sirowich defensive rebounds. The back-to-back baskets for Macary would contribute to a Raven scoring run through the remainder of the quarter, outscoring the Chargers 8-3 with the final four points belonging to junior Ines Gimenez Montserrat (Mallorca, Spain).

The Ravens would still trail by 11 points entering the final stanza (48-37), but would rise to the occasion with six more unanswered points from Gimenez Montserrat, bringing her consecutive total to ten. At the 6:13 mark of the quarter, Leana Heitmann returned from behind the arc with a three-pointer to bring the Ravens to within four points, eventually cutting the charger lead to just two a minute later. Towards the end of the action, Franklin Pierce would run into foul troubles, sending Dominican to the line a total ten times. Of the ten trips to the line, the Chargers would convert on eight free throws, and would hold fast to their 65-57 victory.

After the rough first quarter, the Ravens hunkered down and shot 44.7 percent (21-of-47) from the floor as a team, going 2-of-8 (25%) from three-territory and 13-of-16 (81.3%) from free-throws. For the second time this season, Ines Gimenez Montserrat put 20 points up on the board for the birds, while Leana Heitmann matched her season (career) high 14-points scored. Both players additionally raked in four rebounds each, with Heitmann going a perfect 5-of-5 from the floor.

The Ravens will close out the weekend tournament tomorrow (11/20) afternoon, when they will take on Caldwell University for an early 11:00 a.m. tip-off from Orangeville, New York.