Leedhams lead Ravens to seventh-straight win with 44 combined points

Boxscore 

RINDGE, N.H. (January 20, 2009) - Franklin Pierce University, among other teams receiving votes in this week's USA Today/ESPN/WBCA Division II poll, used a big first half to clinch its seventh-straight win with a 67-52 decision over Assumption College in a key Northeast-10 Conference women's basketball match up at the Fieldhouse tonight.

Franklin Pierce, which has now won nine of its last ten, was again led by the sister combination of Jennifer and Johannah Leedham (Ellesmere Port, England/Cheshire Academy (Conn.)) who combined for 44 of the Ravens 67 points. Junior All-American and Great Britain international Johannah Leedham, the reigning State Farm/WBCA Division II Player of the Year, led all scorers with 25 points (16 first half) to go with ten rebounds for her third double-double of the season (21^st career), adding five steals and two assists. Senior Jennifer Leedham, the NE-10 Player of the Week, added 19 points (11 first half), six assists, four rebounds and two steals.

Sophomore Tori Ahrens (East Greenwich, R.I./East Greenwich) chipped in five points and eight rebounds, while senior Toby Martin (Wayne, Maine/Maranacook) dished a career-best seven assists to go with four rebounds (three offensive) and three steals.

Senior Bethany Plasski (Fall River, Mass./Durfee) led a trio of Assumption players in double-figures with 14 points on 7-of-13 shooting from the field to go with six rebounds (four offensive) and two assists. Junior Kayla Parker (Sanford, Maine/Sanford) added 13 points as she hit 5-of-7 shots from the field, including her lone three-point attempt, four rebounds and four blocked shots. Sophomore Molly Griffiths (Walpole, Mass./Ursuline Academy) finished with 11 points, five rebounds and two blocks. 

Franklin Pierce, which saw its streak of nine-straight 70-plus point outings come to an end (four-straight over 80 points), finished shooting 36.8-percent (21-for-57) from the field after shooting at 41.2% (14-34) in the first half. Assumption made 42.3% (22-52) of its shots from the field after hitting at 50% (14-28) in the second half to get back in the game. The Greyhounds were outscored 16-4 at the free-throw line (making just 40% of their attempts), while the Ravens posted a 38-34 rebounding advantage and outscored the visitors 29-20 in points off turnovers. 

Griffiths opened the game with a three-pointer, but it was all Franklin Pierce from there in the first half. The Ravens reeled off the next 12 points, sparked by two three's from Jennifer Leedham, as part of a 15-2 run to push the lead into double-digits (15-5) with 14:24 to go. Assumption was back within seven (25-18) after a Parker lay-up with 4:21 left in the half, but Franklin Pierce closed the frame with a 15-1 run to carry a 21-point cushion (40-19) into halftime. Johannah Leedham and junior Kirsten Doldoorian (Brimfield, Mass./Oxford) each buried three's during the run.

Franklin Pierce attempted to run away with it for good, scoring the first five points of the second half to spark an 11-5 run that opened a game-high 27-point cushion (51-24) after two free-throws by Jennifer Leedham with 15:31 to play.

While Assumption didn't get back within single digits, the Greyhounds did scratch back into the game, closing within 15 (56-41) after a 17-5 run over eight minutes, sparked by back-to-back three's from Griffiths. Assumption drew within 13 (58-45) after a Plasski lay-up with 5:27 remaining, but Franklin Pierce held the Greyhounds there and regained an 18-point advantage (63-45) after a back-breaking three by Johannah Leedham with 2:33 to go.   

Franklin Pierce (13-4, 10-3 NE-10) is back in action on Saturday when it visits the University of Massachusetts Lowell at 2 p.m. The Ravens do not return home until Wednesday, February 4, when it hosts No. 15 Stonehill College for an NE-10 showdown at 5:30 p.m. Assumption (10-7, 8-5 NE-10) opens a three game homestand on Saturday when it hosts Le Moyne College at 1:30 p.m.