Franklin Pierce Rolls 
Past Merrimack, 55-36
Ravens hold Warriors to 30-percent shooting, 
enjoy 39-28 advantage on the glass

NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. (February 15, 2006) – Franklin Pierce, ranked eighth in the most recent NCAA Division II Northeast regional rankings, jumped out to a 21-point halftime lead and was never seriously threatened the rest of the way in posting a 55-36 victory over Merrimack College in Northeast-10 Conference women’s basketball action at the Volpe Center tonight.

            The win is Franklin Pierce’s 11^th in Conference play this season, setting a new program high in Northeast-10 play since joining the league in 2000. The Ravens 14 wins this season match last year’s mark as the most since their 22-7 campaign in 1998-99. The Ravens limited Merrimack to 30-percent (15-of-50) shooting from the field, including 26.9% (7-26) in the second half. Franklin Pierce shot 46.2% (24-52) from the floor, including 60.7% (17-28) in the first half in building its 21-point advantage. The Ravens also enjoyed a 39-28 advantage on the glass.

            Senior Heather Jacobs (Stoughton, Mass./Stoughton) led a balanced Franklin Pierce attack with 14 points (nine second half), hitting 6-of-11 shots from the field, to go with four rebounds. Sophomore Stephanie Bergeron (Pointe Claire, Quebec/Dawson College) added 11 points, shooting 4-7 from the field, and four assists, while freshman Heather Benton (Valley Springs, Calif./St. Mary’s) nearly notched a double-double with eight points and eight rebounds to go with three assists and two steals. Freshman Jennifer Leedham (Ellesmere Port, England) chipped in nine points (all first half), while senior Maria Clifton (New York, N.Y./Saint Michael’s Academy) grabbed a game-high nine rebounds.            

No Merrimack players reached double-figures as three bench players led the Warrior scorers. Freshman Amanda Shannon (North Andover, Mass./North Andover) led the way with nine points, hitting 4-of-8 shots from the field, while sophomore Kara Borelli (Westbrook, Maine/Westbrook) added eight points, a team-best six rebounds (three offensive) and two blocks. Junior Bryna Batton (Avalon, N.J./Holy Spirit) chipped in seven points.

            Franklin Pierce, which never trailed in the contest, led by four (10-6) after Merrimack freshman Amanda Shannon (North Andover, Mass./North Andover) scored a basket with 12:45 to play in the first half. The Ravens scored the next 12 points to open a 16-point advantage (22-6) after a Benton lay-up with 8:32 to go before the intermission. Franklin Pierce used an overall run of 21-6 to open a 19-point lead (31-12) after a Bergeron three with 1:51 before the break and opened the 21-point lead with a Leedham three at the halftime buzzer.

            An 11-9 Merrimack run over the first 8:34 of the second half brought the Warriors within 12 (40-28) after a three-pointer from junior Katie Scurrah (Hudson, N.H./Alvirne). The Ravens lead was 13 (46-33) after Takeya Faison (Lynn, Mass./Lynn Classical) drilled a three with 3:29 to play, but that was as close as the Warriors would get as Franklin Pierce closed the game out with a 9-3 spurt, sparked by back-to-back baskets by Jacobs. 

Franklin Pierce (14-11, 11-9 NE-10) is back in action on Saturday when it visits Southern New Hampshire University at 1:30 p.m. Merrimack (8-20, 5-15 NE-10) travels to Assumption College on Saturday at 1:30 p.m.

BOX SCORE