RINDGE, N.H. (11/22/22) – The Franklin Pierce University women's basketball team opened things up in the third quarter to defeat NE10 opponent Saint Michael's College, 60-38, in their home opener on Tuesday evening at The Fieldhouse.

The Ravens enter the Thanksgiving break having won their last two matchups, moving to 3-3 (1-1 NE10) overall with the home victory. The Purple Knights have now lost two straight, and fall to 1-3 (0-2 NE10) on the season.

The Purple Knights claimed an early 7-2 lead to start the contest, but found the early advantage to be short lived as the Ravens tied things up on a layup by freshman Kenzie Sirowich (Seymour, Conn.), followed by a three-pointer by Ines Gimenez-Monserrat (Mallorca, Spain). With just 16 seconds left to play in the first quarter, Raven center Sara Macary (Naugatuck, Conn.) knocked down a late jumper from inside the arc, helping the Ravens to a 13-10 lead heading into the second frame.

After falling behind in the first, the Purple Knights sprinted out of the gate with thirteen  unanswered points to restore their lead at 23-13. To try and stop the bleeding, freshman Leana Heitmann (Pompey, N.Y.) sent home a three-pointer from up top with 4:32 left in the half. However, from start to finish, Saint Mike's would buckle down defensively and hold Pierce to just five points scored in the quarter. Entering intermission, the Purple Knights would lead the Ravens 27-18.

Franklin Pierce came out of the break frustrated, and looked to deal some damage in the third quarter. Throughout the opening five minutes, the Ravens would outscore the Knights 10-5, eventually pulling the score to a manageable 32-29. However, the storyline came in the final three minutes of the frame, when the Ravens jumped back ahead on ten unanswered points, which included four points apiece from Sara Macary and Keely Toohey (McCrae, Australia). The late surge would set the stage for the Ravens, leading 39-32 entering the fourth quarter.

Leana Heitmann made sure the Ravens picked up where they left off with seven consecutive points through the first three-and-a-half minutes of the fourth. Leading by ten nearing the six minute mark, Ines Gimenez-Monserrat and Sara Macary spearheaded a 13-0 shelling by the Ravens, while the defensive game held Saint Michael's to just six points scored throughout the entire quarter. Both ends of the court would shine for Pierce in the fourth, as they would claim victory with their largest lead of the season at the final buzzer.

Franklin Pierce shot 23-of-48 (47.9%) from the floor, while the Knights went ice cold with just 16-53 (30.2%) success. Both Leanna Heitmann and Sara Macary recorded their highest point totals of the season, with each netting 17 points in the winning effort. Defensively, Kenzie Sirowich hauled in a team-high eight rebounds while Gabriela Sanchez-Parodi (Canary Islands, Spain) had a strong defensive showing, securing a game-high three steals.

Women's basketball returns home on Tuesday, November 30^th for a 5:30 p.m. tip-off versus NE10 opponent Le Moyne College for the first of two matchups this season.