Franklin Pierce 
Holds Off Bryant, 65-54
Jo. Leedham nets season-high 32 points behind 12-for-13 effort at the free-throw line

SMITHFIELD, R.I. (November 25, 2007) – The Franklin Pierce University women’s basketball team held off a late Bryant University charge to remain perfect on the season with a 65-54 victory in Northeast-10 Conference action at the Chace Wellness Center this afternoon.

            Franklin Pierce was again led by the efforts of sophomore All-American Johannah Leedham (Ellesmere Port, England/Cheshire Academy (Conn.)), who led all scorers with a season-high 32 points as she hit 12-of-13 shots from the free-throw line to go with 10-for-18 shooting from the field. In addition to recording her second 30-point outing of the year (9^th career), she collected five rebounds, three steals and two assists for the Ravens.

            Junior Toby Martin (Wayne, Maine/Maranacook) added eight points and two assists, while sophomore Jess McPherson (Croydon, Australia) totaled seven points, two rebounds and two steals. Senior Josie Lidke (Chaska, Minn./Chaska) and junior Jennifer Leedham (Ellesmere Port, England/Cheshire Academy (Conn.)) each led the Ravens with seven rebounds each.

            Junior Cara Johnson (Endicott, N.Y./Union-Endicott) led three Bryant players in double-figures with 14 points. Sophomore Kelsey O’Keefe (Warren, Mass./Quaboag) added ten points and five rebounds, while classmate Kristin Mraz (Johnstown, N.Y./Johnstown) totaled ten points and four steals off the bench. Senior Lynne-Ann Kokoski (Hatfield, Mass./Smith Academy) grabbed a game-high nine rebounds for the Bulldogs.            

Franklin Pierce led by two at halftime (23-21) and shot 50-percent (11-for-22) in the second half, to go with 18-for-21 (85.7%) shooting at the free-throw line over the final 20 minutes to pull away. The Ravens held Bryant to 33.3% (19-for-57) shooting for the afternoon, including 26.7% (8-30) in the first half. The Bulldogs connected on just 2-of-16 (12.5%) three-pointers in the game.

            Leading by four (37-33) with 14:04 to play in the second half, Franklin Pierce reeled off a 9-0 run to open its largest lead of the game (46-33) after a Johannah Leedham jumper with 11:30 left. Leedham also converted a conventional three-point play during the run and sister, Jennifer Leedham, buried a three-ball as well.

            A 12-5 Bryant run over a four-minute span pulled the Bulldogs within five (57-52) after a conventional three-point play by Mraz with 3:18 left. Freshman Cynthia Gaudet (Coventry, R.I./LaSalle Academy) drained a three-pointer for Franklin Pierce to spark a deciding 6-0 run to put the Ravens back in front by 11 (63-52) with 1:40 to go and seal the victory.

            Franklin Pierce (4-0, 2-0 NE-10) is back in action on Wednesday, when it hosts Pace University at 5:30 p.m. Bryant (2-1, 1-1 NE-10) visits Assumption College Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.

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