Johannah Leedham just misses triple-double with 33 points, 11
rebounds and eight assists; becomes NE-10's all-time leader in
field goals made in women's hoops history
BOXSCORE
RINDGE, N.H. (February 6,
2010) - The No. 1 nationally-ranked Franklin Pierce
University women's basketball team ran its winning streak to 21
games in a row on Saturday with a 92-75 win over Southern New
Hampshire in The Fieldhouse in Rindge. An estimated crowd of 506
were on hand to see the Ravens improve to 21-0 overall and 17-0 in
the Northeast-10, while also watching the team sweep the two-game
regular season series from the Penmen (11-13, 7-10 NE-10). Franklin
Pierce downed SNHU, 78-66, back on Jan. 2 in Manchester.
Senior standout Johannah
Leedham (Ellesmere Port, England), who was named
England Basketball's Women's National Player of
the Year on Friday, just missed logging a triple-double with 33
points, 11 rebounds, eight assists, three steals and three blocks.
The 33 points gave Leedham 2,686 for her career, as she creeps
closer to the 2,700 mark. Leedham's first field goal of the game
also gave her the all-time record in Northeast-10 women's
basketball history for career baskets made. Her 11 field goals on
Saturday gave her 905 for her brilliant career.
Junior guard Cynthia Gaudet
(Coventry, R.I.) tossed in 22 points on an
impressive 9-of-13 shooting from the field. She also handed out
eight assists and swiped two steals. Sophomore center Jewel
White (Worcester, Mass.) continued her strong play as of
late as she came off the bench to throw in 13 points and rip down
eight boards. She also totaled two steals and two blocks. Senior
guard Kirsten Doldoorian (Brimfield, Mass.) also
provided strong play off the bench as she had nine points, three
rebounds and two steals.
Sloane Sorrell pumped in 25 points
to pace the Penmen, while Erin Baldwin had 13 points in a reserve
role.
Both teams shot very well from the floor as the Ravens converted 51
percent (36-of-70) of their shots, while SNHU shot 50 percent
(30-of-60). The Ravens did a solid job of forcing the Penmen into
21 turnovers, which they scored 34 points off of. Franklin Pierce's
92 points in the game were a season-high.
The game was close early on as the
score was tied 7-7 three minutes in. However, the Ravens score nine
of the next 11 points to take a 16-9 lead with 14:15 left in the
half. Leedham sparked the rally by scoring the first seven points,
while freshman guard Amanda Saab (Windham, N.H.)
capped it with a layup.
SNHU rallied and trimmed its
deficit to three on two occasions, including at 24-21 with 10:29
remaining following a Sorrell basket.
Franklin Pierce responded and went
on a 14-2 run over the next four minutes to open up a commanding
38-23 lead that would put the game out of reach as SNHU would never
threaten again. Gaudet started the surge with a deep three and
Leedham followed with five-straight points. Sophomore forward
Marielle Giroud (Martigny, Switzerland) followed
with a pair of free throws and White capped it with back-to-back
layups.
The Ravens continued to build on
their lead and eventually took a 51-34 lead into the locker room at
halftime.
Franklin Pierce kept up the
offensive intensity in the second half and at one point did hold a
comfortable 72-48 lead after a layup from White. Southern New
Hampshire tried to chip away but the lead was too large with not
much time remaining. SNHU was able to get within 15 points as the
final horn sounded, thus ending Franklin Pierce's streak of
six-consecutive wins by 20 points or more.
The Ravens have won 34 of its last
35 games overall and 26-straight regular season games dating back
to the end of last season. They are also 10-0 since becoming the
nation's top-ranked team in the USA Today/ESPN
WBCA Division II Top-25 Poll back on Jan. 5.
Franklin Pierce returns to action
Tuesday night when it plays host to Saint Michael's at 5:30 p.m. in
The Fieldhouse in Rindge. Fans who cannot attend the game can
follow it online via audio, video and/or live stats through the
team's page at athletics.franklinpierce.edu(.)
