Johannah Leedham drops in game-high 22 points to spark Ravens

BOXSCORE

RINDGE, N.H. (November 29, 2009) – The second-ranked Franklin Pierce University women's basketball team ran its record to 4-0 overall and 2-0 in the Northeast-10 with a convincing 66-42 win over Saint Anselm on Sunday night at The Fieldhouse in Rindge, N.H. The Hawks fell to 1-4 and 0-3 in the conference.

Senior forward Johannah Leedham (Ellesmere Port, England) led the way for Franklin Pierce with a game-high 22 points. It marked the third time in four games this season she scored at least 20 points and it also marked the third time she poured in a game-high of points. Junior guard Cynthia Gaudet (Coventry, R.I.) chipped in 10 points as she has scored double-digits in both conference games this season. Kirsten Doldoorian (Brimfield, Mass.) came off the bench to pump in 11 points, including knocking a trio of three-pointers.

Franklin Pierce shot a strong 48 percent (13-of-27) from the floor in the opening 20 minutes, but struggled in the second half and made only 8-of-28 baskets for a 28.6 percent clip. The Ravens did assist on 19 of the 21 baskets they converted. Gaudet led in that category with eight helpers.

The Ravens forced Saint Anselm into 26 turnovers, as sophomore forward Marielle Giroud (Martigny, Switzerland) recorded three steals. Franklin Pierce produced 25 points off of the turnovers. Leedham and junior center Tori Ahrens (East Greenwich, R.I.) each blocked three shots apiece.

Epiphany Smith led the Hawks with 14 points as they shot 41 percent (16-of-39) from the field.

Megan Howard drained an early three to stake Saint Anselm to a 5-2 lead 90 seconds into the contest. However, that was the last time the Hawks would hold the advantage.

Franklin Pierce reeled off eight-straight points, including six from Leedham, to take a 10-5 lead three-and-a-half minutes later.

The Ravens opened up their first double-figure lead at the 12:45 mark of the first half on a three-pointer by Tiffany Johnson (Swanton, Vt.) to make it 18-7. Franklin Pierce led by as many as 16 points in the opening 20 minutes and took a commanding 39-24 lead into the locker room at halftime.

Leedham had 13 points in the opening half, while Doldoorian and Ahrens chipped in nine and eight points, respectively.

The Ravens led by double-digits the entire second half in pulling away to earn the win.

Franklin Pierce returns to action on Wednesday night when it travels to face Merrimack at 5:30 p.m. For more information on Franklin Pierce women's basketball, please visit the team's page at athletics.franklinpierce.edu(.)