RINDGE, N.H. (March 5, 2021) – The Franklin Pierce University women's basketball team hit the hardwood at The Fieldhouse for their first action in a calendar year and nearly pulled off a 15 point comeback before falling by a three point margin, 64-61 against American International College Friday afternoon on Senior Day.

The Yellow Jackets improved to 6-1 on the season, while the Ravens played in their first contest since a 59-57 victory at Assumption College last February 25th. The teams will complete their home and home series tomorrow in Springfield with tip-off set for 4:30 p.m.

In a pregame ceremony, the Ravens honored Demi Akins (Cambridge, Mass.) and Hannah Everidge (Baldwinville, Mass.) for their contributions to the team and university.

Emma Carter (Bristol, Vt.) who tallied a team-high 17 points to go with five rebounds, two assists, and two steals led the Ravens on offense. In her first collegiate game, freshman Anna Badosa Soler (Girona, Spain) chipped in 12 points and six boards in 31 minutes off the bench. Rylee Skinner (Leominster, Mass.) joined her teammates in double-figures with 10 points and a team-best three steals. Sophia Holmes (Oakland, Maine) was two points shy of a double-double as the guard corralled a career-high 12 boards.

For the visitors, Destine Perry dropped a game-best 32 points missing only five shots in 33 minutes. Perry also came away with four steals and dished out four helpers.

With the Ravens behind by 15, 49-34 at the 6:52 mark in the third quarter. The Ravens defense clamped down in the fourth holding their counterparts to 3-of-13 (23.1%) shooting forcing eight turnovers in the final quarter and scoring half of their 18 points off the Yellow Jacket mistakes.

Pierce came out firing in the first quarter converting 8-of-11 (72.7%) of their shot attempts with most of them being high percentage looks. The teams traded treys early and Carter knotted the game at 8-8 swishing a trifecta from the top of the key. Down two possessions, 15-10, the Crimson and Grey closed the quarter on an 8-2 mini spurt to take their first lead 18-17 with six ticks left as Lisa Sulejmani (Burlington, Vt.) hit a floater.

AIC notched six consecutive markers to pull ahead 23-18 almost halfway through the quarter. Badosa Soler cut the Ravens deficit to two, 24-22 via a driving deuce, however, the guests went on a 12-2 run capped off by a Perry triple to lead by a first-half high 12, 36-24 with 2:41 until the break. FPU manufactured the final four points of the quarter to head into the half behind 38-30. The hosts struggled with their shot in the second combining to go 4-of-14 (28.6%) from the field.

A pair of freebies by Badosa Soler 2:15 into the third quarter put Pierce behind 42-34. From there AIC would expand their edge to 15 off the strength of seven in a row. A 9-0 Raven run with four points coming from Skinner and five from Badosa Soler including a corner three made it a two-possession game, 49-43 with 3:38 to go in the period. Perry temporarily halted the Raven scoring spree knocking down a three-ball as the teams made the turn for home.

In the fourth and final quarter, a Perry hoop and harm reestablished the double-digit lead for American International at 55-45. FPU produced 10 straight points to deadlock the score 55-55 using clutch deep range connections by Holmes and Badosa Soler.

The score remained tied over the next few possessions until Sulejmani followed her own missed layup and put the second chance bucket in to give the Ravens only their second lead of the game with 50 seconds remaining. On the ensuing possession, Perry threw a bad pass out of bounds giving the Ravens the ball back with a two point edge and 43 ticks to go. Sulejmani took the shot clock all the way down and slashed through the paint to potentially ice the game and her layup attempt circled the rim and went out. AIC took the ball on the other end and the rock found Perry waiting on the right-wing and she knocked in her sixth three of the ballgame to put her squad ahead 62-61 with 10 seconds left.

FPU advanced the ball after their timeout, but turned the rock over with a bad pass and they were forced to foul. Needing a missed free throw, FPU got it, however, the rebound landed in the hands of Perry as she was fouled. Perry went 1-of-2 at the stripe missing the second free throw attempt. Pierce fouled and advanced the ball to midcourt with 0.3 seconds left and couldn't get a potential game-tying three off as the buzzer sounded.

For more information on Franklin Pierce Athletics, please visit the official website of Franklin Pierce Athletics (http://www.fpuravens.com). 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 apparel can do so at the Department of Athletics' online store (https://shopfpuravens.com). You can also follow the women's basketball team on Twitter (https://twitter.com/FPURavensWBB) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/franklin_pierce_wbb/).