November 26, 2006

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
FRANKLIN PIERCE DEFEATS BRYANT WOMEN 75-58 SUNDAY

RINDGE, NH - Franklin Pierce freshman standout Johannah Leedham scored 23 points and grabbed 12 rebounds as the host Ravens defeated Bryant 75-58 in Northeast-10 Conference action here Sunday.  Bryant's Joanna Skiba scored 14 of her team-high 21 points in the second half as the Bulldogs fell for the first time this season, falling to 3-1 overall and 1-1 in the NE-10.  

The Ravens opened up red-hot early, racing out to a 22-9 lead and led 32-19 following the first of two 3-point field goals by Toby Martin with 4:35 left.  But the Bulldogs would mount a 7-0 run of their own to get back to within six, 32-26.  A Kristin Mraz fast-break layup followed by an Erin Murphy three from the top of the key following a Raven turnover helped key the spurt.

But Martin drained another three and Mega McIntyre scored in the lane as the Ravens went into the locker room at the break leading 39-29.

In the second half, Bryant pulled to within 41-40 with 17:29 left following a pair of three's from Skiba, a jumper in the lane by Lauren Rubenoff and a three from Cara Johnson.  But that would be as close as the Bulldogs would get as Franklin Pierce countered with eight-straight points following three Bryant turnovers to lead 49-40. 

The Ravens would outscore Bryant 22-8, taking advantage of a cold shooting spell by the Bulldogs to outscore Bryant 22-8 during a span of six minutes before Skiba hit a runner in the lane with just over five minutes left to make it 66-50 but the Ravens would pull away down the stretch.

Franklin Pierce (3-1, 2-0 NE-10) made 11 of 20 from three-point range and shot 45.5 percent from the field in the game.  Leedham, the NE-10 freshman and player of the week, made 8 of 14 from the field and added four assists and six steals. 

Bryant shot 35 percent as Skiba made 8 of 18 from the field and dished out three assists.  Rubenoff finished with 15 points and 15 rebounds in 32 minutes for the Bulldogs.  Bryant turned the ball over 21 times in the game and made just six of 22 from beyond the arc.

The Bulldogs will return home on Wednesday, hosting Assumption College in a Northeast-10 Conference game at the Chace Athletic Center. Tipoff is at 5:30 p.m.