Ravens overcome first half turnovers to notch road win behind Jo. Leedham

MANCHESTER, N.H. (December 12, 2007) – Franklin Pierce University, among teams receiving votes in this week’s USA Today/ESPN/WBCA Division II poll, is off to an 8-1 start for the second-straight season after posting a 79-70 victory over Southern New Hampshire University in Northeast-10 Conference women’s basketball action at the SNHU Fieldhouse tonight.

Franklin Pierce turned in another strong shooting effort, hitting 52-percent (26-for-50) from the field, including 52.4% (11-21) in the second half. Southern New Hampshire shot 44.6-percent (25-for-56) from the field in the contest, but just 37% (10-for-27) in the second half. Both teams struggled to take care of the ball, combining for 54 turnovers, but just ten of Franklin Pierce’s 26 turnovers came in the second half as the Ravens overcame a 23-13 deficit in the first half in points off turnovers.

Franklin Pierce was led by sophomore All-American Johannah Leedham (Ellesmere Port, England/Cheshire Academy (Conn.)) who netted a game-high 23 points, 17 of which came after halftime, on 7-of-12 shooting from the field and a 9-for-13 effort at the free-throw line. She also collected five rebounds and four steals.

Junior guard Vanessa Power (Mildura, Australia) matched her season high with 14 points, connecting on 4-of-7 three-pointers, to go with three rebounds, two assists and two steals off the bench for Franklin Pierce. Classmate Jennifer Leedham (Ellesmere Port, England/Cheshire Academy (Conn.)) chipped in nine points and six assists for the Ravens.

Two Southern New Hampshire players netted double-figures off the bench, led by junior Stephanie Houghton (Manchester, N.H./Manchester West) with 19 points on 7-of-10 shooting from the field, including 3-of-5 from three point range, to go with seven assists and two steals. Sophomore Julia Houghtaling (Franconia, N.H./New Hampton School) added 13 points and three rebounds off the bench for the Penmen, while junior Megan Shay (Candor, N.Y./Candor) was the lone Penman starter in double digits with ten points, three rebounds and two assists.

Franklin Pierce trailed by three at halftime (42-39), but scored the first six points of the second half to regain a lead they would not relinquish. The Ravens were up a point (50-49) after a Houghton three-pointer with 13:04 to play, but two-straight baskets by Johannah Leedham, including a conventional three-point play, sparked a quick 7-0 run to put Franklin Pierce up by eight (57-49) with 9:36 left.

Shay canned a three-pointer during a 10-3 Penmen run that trimmed their deficit to a point (60-59) with 6:40 to go. Power answered with back-to-back three-pointers to spark a 10-0 Franklin Pierce run to give the Ravens their first double-digit lead (70-59) with 4:28 left. Houghton canned a three with 1:01 to play to draw SNHU within six (72-66), but Franklin Pierce drained six of its next eight free-throws (all by Johannah Leedham) to ice the victory.

Franklin Pierce (8-1, 6-1 NE-10) is back in action on Friday when it visits Post University in Waterbury, Conn., for a non-conference battle at 5 p.m. The Ravens next home game is not until after the New Year when they host preseason NE-10 favorites Bentley College on Wednesday, January 8, at 5:30 p.m. Southern New Hampshire (3-5, 3-4 NE-10) hosts Bentley on Saturday at 1:30 p.m.