Franklin Pierce Downs #10 Stonehill, 80-69
Ravens enjoy another hot shooting day and Leedham's eighth double-double leads the way
EASTON, Mass. (January 20, 2007) - Franklin Pierce completed its first regular season series sweep of Stonehill College as the Ravens handed the Skyhawks, ranked No. 10 in this week's USA Today/ESPN/WBCA Division II poll, an 80-69 setback in Northeast-10 Conference women's basketball action at Merkert Gymnasium this afternoon.
Franklin Pierce shot over 50-percent from the field for the second-straight contest as it hit 54.2-percent (26-of-48) of its shots, including 11-of-18 (61.1%) in the second half - marking the second-straight game the Ravens have shot over 60% in the second half as well. The Ravens also canned 23-of-25 (92%) free-throw attempts, including all 20 in the second half, while Stonehill went to the line just seven times (making all seven), and the guests enjoyed a 37-22 advantage in points off turnovers.
Freshman Johannah Leedham (Ellesmere Port, England/Cheshire Academy) collected her eighth double-double of the season as she led Franklin Pierce with 20 points and a game-high ten rebounds to go with four assists, four steals and a blocked shot. She hit 6-of-13 shots from the field and buried all eight free-throw attempts.
Senior Nicola Dalton (Danbury, Conn./Ridgefield) added a career-high 15 points, hitting 4-5 shots from the floor and 7-8 free-throw attempts, to go with three rebounds and two assists. Sophomore Jennifer Leedham (Ellesmere Port, England/Cheshire Academy) totaled 13 points and five steals, while junior Stephanie Bergeron (Pointe Claire, Quebec/Dawson College) chipped in a season-high 12 points, aided by 6-6 shooting from the line.
Senior Alisha Collins (Port Chester, N.Y./Trinity Catholic) led Stonehill with a game-high 28 points (just two shy of her career-best), hitting 12-of-19 shots from the field (1-2 three's) and converting all three free-throw attempts, to go with four rebounds (three offensive). Freshman Megan Methven (Corning, N.Y./Corning Painted-Post East) netted 16 points off the bench (13 first half), aided by four three-pointers, while senior Tiffany Huggins (Stoughton, Mass./Brockton) chipped in ten points, three assists and five steals.
Franklin Pierce led by as much as eight (37-29) after a Bergeron three-pointer with 3:33 to play in the first half. Stonehill scored the last seven points of the half to close within one (37-36) at the break after a pair of Methven free throws.
The Skyhawks wrapped an 11-0 run around halftime, scoring the first four points of the second half to take their first lead since early in the first half (40-37) after a Caitlin Kennedy (Baldwin, N.Y./St. Francis Prep) jumper 1:04 in. Franklin Pierce answered with eight-straight points of its own to take the lead for good and regain a five-point lead (45-40) after a Johannah Leedham layup with 15:07 to play.
Franklin Pierce's lead was three (48-45) when they used a 10-2 run to open an 11-point cushion (58-47) on a Melissa Kapela (Queens, N.Y./Christ the King) jumper with 10:29 to play. The Ravens lead was 13 (66-53) after a pair of Bergeron free throws with 6:09 to go, but Stonehill made one last run. The Skyhawks drew within one (70-69) when a conventional three-point play by Collins capped a 16-4 run with 2:28 to play.
That would prove to be Stonehill's final points of the night as it missed its final eight shots and Franklin Pierce closed the game out with a 10-0 run with all its points coming at the free-throw line in the final 1:46.
Franklin Pierce (14-5, 10-4 NE-10) is back in action on Tuesday when it opens a three-game home stand with Assumption College at 5:30 p.m. Stonehill (15-4, 10-4 NE-10) visits fourth-ranked Southern Connecticut State University on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.