Jo. Leedham leads Ravens with 30 points, breaks program's career steals record

Boxscore 

KEENE, N.H. (December 6, 2008) - Franklin Pierce, ranked sixth in this week's USA Today/ESPN/WBCA Division II poll, picked up a 68-61 victory over Southern New Hampshire University in Northeast-10 Conference women's basketball action at Spaulding Gymnasium on the campus of Keene State College this afternoon.

Junior All-American and Great Britain international Johannah Leedham (Ellesmere Port, England/Cheshire Academy (Conn.)), the reigning State Farm/WBCA Division II Player of the Year, led Franklin Pierce with a game-high 30 points as she made 8-of-17 shots from the field and converted 12-of-16 free-throw attempts on the afternoon. She also collected five rebounds, two assists, a career-high matching four blocked shots and a season-best eight steals for the Ravens. The eight steals helped her break the program's career record of 231 set by Franklin Pierce Hall of Famer Cassie Beckwith (1992-96) as Leedham has now recorded 233 steals in 64 career games played (3/6/gm) in just over two full seasons.

Sophomore Tori Ahrens (East Greenwich, R.I./East Greenwich) added season-highs of 12 points and a team-best nine rebounds (five offensive) to go with two blocks. Senior Jennifer Leedham (Ellesmere Port, England/Cheshire Academy (Conn.)) posted 12 points, aided by 8-of-9 shooting at the free-throw line, four rebounds and three assists.

Junior Ashara Carrington (Marblehead, Mass./Marblehead) led Southern New Hampshire with a double-double effort of 14 points and game-high 11 rebounds (six offensive) to go with two assists and two blocked shots off the bench. She made 4-of-6 shots from the field and converted 6-of-9 free-throw attempts. Sophomore Megan Smith (Smithfield, Maine/Skowhegan) posted 14 points, on 6-for-10 shooting, while senior Stephanie Houghton (Manchester, N.H./Manchester West) chipped in 11 points, three assists and three steals.

Franklin Pierce shot 34.5-percent (19-for-55) from the field, including 38.5% (10-26) in the second half, while SNHU finished shooting 38.5% (20-52) from the floor, including 46.2% (12-26) in the final half. The Ravens enjoyed a 28-17 scoring advantage at the free-throw line.

Southern New Hampshire held a four-point lead (18-14) after a lay-up from sophomore Magdala Johnson (Sandown, N.H./Timberlane Regional) with 7:08 left in the first half. Franklin Pierce used an 11-0 run over the next six minutes to regain the lead and open a seven-point cushion (25-18) after two free-throws from Jennifer Leedham. Younger sister, Johannah Leedham, led the run with seven points, including a three-pointer. 

Franklin Pierce took a nine-point lead (29-20) into halftime and pushed the lead into double digits (31-20) when Ahrens opened the second half with a lay-up. The Ravens lead grew to 16 (44-28) after a free-throw from freshman Marielle Giroud (Martigny, Switzerland) with 14:44 left in the contest.

SNHU chipped away and got back within nine (46-37) after a lay-up from senior Alyssa Whitney (Somerville, Mass./Arlington Catholic) with 12:13 to go. Franklin Pierce regained a 14-point lead (55-41) on a lay-up from senior Toby Martin (Wayne, Maine/Maranacook) with 8:02 remaining. The Penmen made one last run, using a 10-0 spurt to close within four (55-51) after a Smith jumper with 6:08 to go. Houghton sparked the run when she was fouled while draining a three-pointer and converted the free-throw for a four-point play.

Another Houghton three and a free-throw from Carrington got SNHU within a possession (64-61) with 1:08 left, but Franklin Pierce did enough at the free-throw line (4-for-6) down the stretch and the Penmen missed their last two shots as the Ravens held off the late charge for the win.  

Franklin Pierce (4-2, 3-2 NE-10) is back in action on Tuesday when it visits American International College, among teams receiving votes nationally, at 5:30 p.m. The Ravens return home on Saturday, December 20, to host Molloy College, an NCAA Tournament participant last season, at 1 p.m. Southern New Hampshire (2-4, 1-4 NE-10) hosts the University of New Haven on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.