Jo. Leedham posts third 30-plus game of the week, moves into second place on Ravens all-time scoring list

Boxscore 

RINDGE, N.H. (January 10, 2009) - Franklin Pierce University, among other teams receiving votes in this week's USA Today/ESPN/WBCA Division II poll, picked up its season-high fourth-straight win with an 83-63 victory over Southern Connecticut State University in Northeast-10 Conference women's basketball action at the Fieldhouse this afternoon. The contest was a matchup of the last two NCAA Division II Northeast Regional champions as the Ravens picked up their first regional crown last season after the Owls claimed the title in 2007 en route to a National Championship.

Junior All-American Johannah Leedham (Ellesmere Port, England/Cheshire Academy (Conn.)) again led the way for Franklin Pierce, posting her third-straight 30-plus point outing (20^th career) as she hit 14-of-17 shots from the field, including 3-for-5 from three-point range, and converted both free-throw attempts for a game-high 33 points (19 first half) - moving into second place on the program's career scoring list with 1,644 points, passing Juanita Brown (1,618). The reigning State Farm/WBCA Division II Player of the Year added a team-high nine rebounds, five assists, five steals and two blocked shots in 30 minutes.

Sophomore Tori Ahrens (East Greenwich, R.I./East Greenwich) was the only other Raven in double-figures with ten points (5-6 FGs) to go with five rebounds and three assists. Sophomore Cynthia Gaudet (Coventry, R.I./LaSalle Academy) added nine points, four rebounds and five assists, while senior Jennifer Leedham (Ellesmere Port, England/Cheshire Academy (Conn.)) chipped in with nine assists and three steals.

Senior Allyson Smith (East Hampton, Conn./East Hampton) led three Southern Connecticut players in double-figures with 19 points on 6-of-9 shooting from the field to go with a 7-10 effort at the free-throw line while adding six rebounds and three assists off the bench. Junior Jacqueline Johannes (Southbury, Conn./Pomperaug) posted a double-double with 14 points and a game-high 13 rebounds (eight offensive) to go with two steals. Freshman Sarah Schicher (Vienna, Austria) chipped in 15 points, nine rebounds, two assists, two steals and three blocks. 

Franklin Pierce finished shooting 49.3-percent (34-for-69) from the field after using a 51.4% (18-35) effort in the first half to build a 42-24 lead at the break. Southern shot 35.3% (24-for-68) from the field, but could not overcome 25.6% (10-39) shooting in the first half, missing all eight three-point attempts in the frame. 

Johannah Leedham scored the first five points of the game as Franklin Pierce roared to a 21-2 lead less than five minutes into the contest. Leedham scored 13 points during that stretch, while Ahrens added six. Southern answered with a 10-0 spurt to close within nine (21-12) after a jumper by freshman Lauren Allen (Sterling Heights, Mich./Warren Wood Tower) with 12:33 left in the half.

Franklin Pierce posted a 15-0 stretch to push the lead to 24 (38-14) after a Gaudet layup with 6:16 left in the frame and the Ravens lead never got within single digits again. The Ravens lead grew to as much as 26 (42-16) before the break, but Southern scored the final eight points over the final 3:37 to draw within 18 (42-24) at the intermission.

Southern made several runs at Franklin Pierce, getting as close as 13 (70-57) after a three-pointer from sophomore Logan Lentz (Chambersburg, Pa./Chambersburg) with 5:45 to play, but could get no closer as the Ravens sealed the win with an 11-2 spell, sparked by a three-pointer by senior Vanessa Power (Mildura, Australia) to regain a 22-point cushion (81-59) with 1:08 remaining.

Franklin Pierce (10-4, 7-3 NE-10) is back in action on Wednesday when it visits The College of Saint Rose at 5:30 p.m. The Ravens return home next Saturday to host the University of New Haven at 2 p.m., in a contest which will be broadcast live on WEEI 93.5 FM Keene. Southern Connecticut (5-10, 2-8 NE-10) visits the University of Massachusetts Lowell on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.