Bryant Shoots Past 
Franklin Pierce, 78-65
Murphy leads Bulldogs to sixth-straight win with game-high 24 points

SMITHFIELD, R.I. (February 6, 2007) – Bryant University, ranked ninth in the most recent NCAA Division II Northeast Regional poll, extended its winning streak to six games with a key 78-65 victory over Franklin Pierce, ranked sixth in the region, in Northeast-10 Conference women’s basketball action at the Chace Wellness Center this evening.

            Franklin Pierce, which leads the Northeast-10 in forced turnovers, was out-scored 19-10 on points off turnovers. The Ravens committed 20 turnovers, compared to 11 for Bryant, and hit 41.2-percent (21-51) of their shots from the field, but just 34.5% (10-29) in the second half after shooting 50% (11-22) to take a 38-33 halftime lead.

Despite the loss, Franklin Pierce clinched a home game in the upcoming Northeast-10 Tournament as a result of Saint Michael's College's 67-54 loss to Bentley College. The Ravens currently sit in eighth place in the NE-10 standings, just a half game behind Bentley for fourth place. 12 teams earn spots in the NE-10 Tournament, with the top four seeds receiving byes.

            Senior Erin Murphy (Albany, N.Y./Colonie) led all scorers with 24 points (18 second half) on 6-11 shooting from the field to go with a 12-15 effort at the free-throw line, adding five rebounds (four offensive) and three assists. Freshman Kelsey O’Keefe (Warren, Mass./Quaboag) added 18 points and seven rebounds, while classmate Courtney Schermerhorn (Lowell, Mass./Lowell) totaled 11 points, three boards and two assists. Senior Joanna Skiba (Providence, R.I./Classical) chipped in 12 points off the bench.            

Bryant hit 53.8-percent (14-of-26) of its shots in the second half after making just 28.6% (10-35) in the first. The Bulldogs limited Franklin Pierce to 2-11 (18.2%) from three-point range in the second stanza after the Ravens canned 6-8 (75%) in the opening half. Bryant also out-scored the Ravens 26-15 at the free-throw line.

            Sophomore Jennifer Leedham (Ellesmere Port, England/Cheshire Academy) led Franklin Pierce with 18 points (12 first half), hitting 7-of-12 shots from the field, including 4-7 from three-point range, to go with three rebounds and two steals. Classmate Toby Martin (Wayne, Maine/Maranacook) added a season-high 12 points, hitting 4-5 shots from the field, including both three-point attempts, and two steals.

Freshman Johannah Leedham (Ellesmere Port, England/Cheshire Academy) collected her tenth double-double of the season with 14 points (all second half) and a game-high ten rebounds. Her two steals on the night enabled her to break the program’s single-season record of 94 steals set by Tricia O’Brien in 1984-85. The record is the eighth she has broken in her first collegiate season.

The two teams traded 7-0 runs to open the contest, but Franklin Pierce opened a nine-point lead (27-18) after two Josie Lidke (Chaska, Minn./Chaska) free-throws with 6:09 to play in the half. The Ravens lead was still nine (33-24) after a Martin three with 2:35 left before halftime, but Bryant began mounting its comeback with a 9-0 run to knot the score at 33-33 after a Schermerhorn three with 1:23 left before the break.

A Martin three and two Lidke free-throws regained a five-point cushion for the Ravens at the break (38-33). The visitors were able to push its lead back to eight (43-35) after a Jennifer Leedham three 1:43 into the second half. Bryant scored eight-straight points, four from junior Lynne-Ann Kokoski (Hatfield, Mass./Smith Academy), to force the game’s third tie (43-43) with 15:32 to play.

The score was still tied (51-51) with 12:28 to play, when Bryant used a 14-1 run to break open a 13-point lead (65-52) after an O’Keefe layup with 6:10 remaining. O’Keefe netted nine points in all during the decisive stretch. Franklin Pierce never got within ten points the rest of the way as the Bulldogs drained 9-of-10 free-throws down the stretch to seal the victory.   

            Franklin Pierce (16-8, 12-7 NE-10) returns home on Saturday when it hosts Saint Anselm College at 1:30 p.m. Bryant (16-7, 12-6 NE-10) visits 14^th-ranked American International College on Saturday at 1:30 p.m.

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