#5 Southern
Connecticut State RINDGE, N.H. (January 6, 2007) – Southern Connecticut State University, ranked No. 5 in this week’s USA Today/ESPN/WBCA Division II poll, turned up its defensive effort in the second half to post a 63-51 victory over Franklin Pierce, among teams receiving votes nationally, in Northeast-10 Conference women’s basketball action at the Fieldhouse this afternoon. After hitting 44.4-percent (12-of-27) of its shots in the first half and committing just eight turnovers, Franklin Pierce was held to 25.9% (7-27) shooting, including 3-11 (27.3%) from three-point range, and turned the ball over 13 times in the second. Southern also out-scored the hosts 15-6 at the free-throw line. Junior Shamika Jackson (Manchester, Conn./East Catholic) scored 14 of her team-high 20 points in the second half, shooting 8-of-12 from the field, to go with three rebounds and three steals. Classmate Michelle Martinik (Monroe, Conn./Masuk) netted 15 points (12 first half), hitting 5-9 shots from the field, including 4-8 from three-point range, and dished six assists, while junior Kate Lynch (Rumford, R.I./LaSalle Academy) finished with 12 points, aided by 10-of-12 shooting from the free-throw line, eight rebounds, two assists and two steals. Senior Babette Noah (Yaounde, Camaroon) chipped in eight points and eight boards (four offensive).
Freshman Johannah Leedham (Ellesmere Port, England/Cheshire Academy) led all scorers with 21 points to go with eight rebounds, four assists, two blocked shots and two steals. Sophomore sister Jennifer Leedham (Ellesmere Port, England/Cheshire Academy) finished with 11 points, four rebounds and four steals. Southern Connecticut finished a first half which featured four ties and eight lead changes with a five-point advantage (33-28) after Jackson scored off a Martinik steal as time expired. Franklin Pierce led by five points (21-16) after a Vanessa Power (Mildura, Australia) three-pointer capped a 7-1 run with 9:49 left in the stanza. Southern scored the first seven points of the second half to extend its lead to 12 points (40-28) after a Martinik layup 3:03 into the frame. The Owls lead was 13 (50-37) after a Jackson three with 10:21 left, but the Ravens closed within seven (50-43) after a Johannah Leedham three-pointer with 8:24 to go. Jackson drained a three to put the guests back up by double-digits (55-43) with 6:19 left and the Owls were again up 13 (57-44) after two Lynch free-throws with 3:28 to play. Franklin Pierce was able to close within seven points again (58-51) after a Jennifer Leedham jumper with 55-seconds to go, but SCSU hit five of six free-throws the rest of the way to ice its 14th-straight victory and remain perfect on the year. Franklin Pierce (11-4, 7-3 NE-10) continues its tough stretch on Tuesday at Bentley College, among teams receiving votes nationally, at 5:30 p.m. The Ravens are back home on Tuesday, January 16, to host Le Moyne College at 5:30 p.m. Southern Connecticut (14-0, 10-0 NE-10) hosts Pace University on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. |
