Leedham sisters combine for 51 points for Ravens

RINDGE, N.H. (January 12, 2008) –Franklin Pierce University, ranked 14th in this week's USA Today/ESPN/WBCA Division II poll, cruised to an 88-60 victory over Southern New Hampshire University in Northeast-10 Conference men's basketball action at the Fieldhouse this afternoon.

Franklin Pierce's sister duo of junior Jennifer and sophomore All-American Johannah Leedham (Ellesmere Port, England/Cheshire Academy (Conn.)) combined for 51 of the Ravens 88 points on the night. Johannah led all scorers with 31 points (23 first half), hitting 11-of-17 shots from the field, including 8-for-11 from three-point range, to go with five rebounds, six steals and four assists. Jennifer added 20 points on 8-of-10 shooting from the field, 4-4 from three-point range, seven assists and two steals.

Franklin Pierce raced out to an 11 point lead (17-5) behind 15 Johannah Leedham points 2:19 into the contest and were up by 12 (22-10) on 20 points from Leedham less then seven minutes into the game. She made 8-of-9 shots in the first half overall, hitting all seven three-point attempts. The sisters were a combined 14-for-17 from the field in the stanza, including a perfect 10-10 from three-point range, for 38 combined points. Johannah Leedham also collected her 900th career point on her first basket of the afternoon and is now within 71 points of the 1,000-point plateau in her second collegiate season.

Sophomore Julia Houghtaling (Franconia, N.H./New Hampton) posted a double-double for Southern New Hampshire with 17 points and a game-high ten rebounds (seven offensive). Junior Megan Shay (Candor, N.Y./Candor) finished with 14 points on 5-of-9 shooting from the field, including 4-8 from three-point range, to go with four rebounds.

Franklin Pierce had it sewn up by halftime on 70-percent (30-of-56) shooting from the field, including 10-14 (71.4%) from beyond the arc. The Ravens finished shooting 53.6% (30-56), including 14-24 (58.3%) from downtown. Franklin Pierce turned 30 SNHU turnovers into a 32-11 advantage in points off miscues.

Leading by ten (25-15) with 12:37 left in the opening half, Franklin Pierce posted a 19-4 run over the next six minutes to open a 25-point bulge (46-21) after a Jennifer Leedham lay-up with 6:26 left. Southern New Hampshire wouldn't get back within 20 the rest of the way as the Ravens built a 32-point cushion (57-25) at halftime and the lead would grow to as much as 35 in the second half.

Franklin Pierce (13-2, 8-2 NE-10), winners of 13-of-15 for the first time since 1998-99, is back in action on Wednesday when it travels to Le Moyne College with tip-off at 5:30 p.m. The Ravens are back home next Saturday to host 13th-ranked Stonehill College at 1:30 p.m. Southern New Hampshire (7-8, 4-7 NE-10) visits Bryant University on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.