Franklin Pierce RINDGE, N.H. (November 26, 2006) – Franklin Pierce claimed its third-straight win with a 75-58 victory over Bryant University in Northeast-10 Conference women’s basketball action at the Fieldhouse this afternoon. Franklin Pierce sisters Jennifer and Johannah Leedham (Ellesmere Port, England/Cheshire Academy) led the way for Franklin Pierce, combining for 48 points, 14 rebounds, 12 assists and seven steals. Jennifer, a sophomore, netted a career-best 25 points (15 second half) on 7-of-13 shooting from the field, including 3-5 from three-point range, and drained 8-9 free-throw attempts, to go with eight assists. Johannah, a freshman, notched her fourth-straight 20-point outing to start her collegiate career and second double-double of the season with 23 points (14 first half), a season-high 12 rebounds and six steals to go with four assists and two blocks. She hit 8-of-14 from the field, including 3-5 from long-range, and 4-4 at the line. Freshman Toby Martin (Wayne, Maine) added eight points (2-3 three’s), while junior Megan McIntyre (Melbourne, Australia) chipped in six boards. Franklin Pierce torched the nets from three-point range, canning 55-percent (11-of-20) of its attempts, and finished shooting 45.5% (25-55) overall, including 46.4% (13-28) in building a ten-point halftime lead. Bryant shot just 35% (21-60) from the field on the afternoon, including 6-of-22 (27.3%) from long-distance.
Senior Lauren Rubenoff (New Hartford, Conn./Northwest Regional) notched a double-double for Bryant with 15 points and a game-high 15 rebounds (five offensive). Classmate Joanna Skiba (Providence, R.I./Classical) netted a team-best 21 points (14 second half) to go with seven rebounds, three assists and two steals. Bryant scored the game’s first basket, but Franklin Pierce took over from there, jumping out to as much as a 14-point lead (32-18) after a Martin three-pointer with 4:52 to play in the first half. The Ravens led by ten at the break (39-29), but Bryant used an 11-2 run out of the lockerroom at halftime to trim its deficit to a point (41-40) after a Cara Johnson (Endicott, N.Y./Union-Endicott) three-pointer 2:26 into the second half. Franklin Pierce regained control with a 12-1 run over the next four minutes to regain a 12-point cushion (53-41) after a Jennifer Leedham layup with 13:42 to play. Five-straight Bryant points cut the Ravens lead to seven (53-46) with 12:49 left, but a 13-2 Franklin Pierce run sealed the victory with an 18-point (66-48) bulge after a Vanessa Power (Mildura, Australia) three with 6:01 left. The Bulldogs never got closer than 14 points the rest of the way as the Ravens led by as much as 20 down the stretch. Franklin Pierce (3-1, 2-0 NE-10) returns to action on Wednesday when it visits Pace University at 5:30 p.m. Bryant (3-1, 1-1 NE-10) hosts Assumption College on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. |
