Franklin Pierce Turns Over 
Northwood, 79-49
Ravens take advantage of 35 Seahawks 
turnovers, Leedham breaks steals record

BOCA RATON, Fla. (December 30, 2006) – Franklin Pierce, among team’s receiving votes in the most recent USA Today/ESPN/WBCA Division II poll, took full advantage of 35 Northwood (Fla.) University turnovers in picking up a 79-49 victory on day two of the Doubletree Guest Suites Holiday Classic, hosted by Lynn University, at the de Hoernle Center this afternoon.

            Freshman Johannah Leedham (Ellesmere Port, England/Cheshire Academy) led Franklin Pierce as she notched her seventh double-double of the year and in the process shattered the program’s single-game steals mark with 11 to go with a game-high 13 points and team-best totals of five rebounds and five assists. Leedham broke the previous steal record of seven held by Tricia O’Brien, who accomplished the feat twice within the span of a month in 1985. Leedham has already broken three school records over the first half of her first collegiate season.

            Franklin Pierce also got a career-high ten point outing from senior Nicola Dalton (Danbury, Conn./Ridgefield) to go with three rebounds and two steals. Junior Josie Lidke (Chaska, Minn./Chaska) added eight points (all first half) and two steals, while classmate Stephanie Bergeron (Pointe Claire, Quebec/Dawson College) and sophomore Toby Martin (Wayne, Maine/Maranacook) each chipped in seven points.            

The Ravens hit 50.8-percent (32-63) of their shots from the field for the afternoon, including 61.8% (21-34) in the second half, and posted a 38-8 advantage in points off turnovers.

            Freshman Katie Vican (Wrightsville, Pa./Eastern York) was the lone Northwood player in double-figures with 12 points as she hit 4-of-8 shots from the field and converted 4-of-5 free-throw attempts on the afternoon to go with five rebounds, three assists and two steals. Freshman Bari Levy (Tequesta, Fla./Jupiter) added seven points and a game-high eight rebounds, while classmate Katie Brunck (Point Pleasant Beach, N.J./Point Pleasant Beach) chipped in six points off the bench.

            Franklin Pierce staked out a ten point lead (13-3) five minutes into the contest after a 10-0 run, sparked by a pair of three-pointers from Lidke. The Ravens built an 11-point halftime lead (29-18) and were up ten (38-28) after a Levy jumper four minutes into the second half before an 18-0 run extended their advantage to 28 points (56-28) with 11:17 to play and sealed their 11^th victory of the season. Franklin Pierce’s 11-2 start is its first since the 1998-99 campaign.

            Franklin Pierce (11-2, 7-1 NE-10) returns home and begins the New Year with a key Northeast-10 Conference clash with No. 21 American International College on Wednesday, January 3, at the Fieldhouse at 5:30 p.m. Northwood (6-6) hosts Emmanuel College on Wednesday at 7 p.m.

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