Marielle Giroud drops in a game-high 18 points for the Ravens

RINDGE, N.H. (January 31, 2012) -- The Franklin Pierce University women's basketball team shot just 38 percent from the field and couldn't overcome an early run by Stonehill in dropping a 68-57 decision to the Skyhawks on Tuesday night at Merkert Gymnasium in Easton, Mass. The Ravens had their two-game winning streak snapped in falling to 13-7 overall and 10-6 in the Northeast-10, while Stonehill improved to 11-9 and 7-9 in league play.

Three Ravens scored in double-figures, including senior Marielle Giroud's (Martigny, Switzerland) game-high 18 points. Junior forward Amanda Saab (Windham, N.H.) and senior center Jewel White (Worcester, Mass.) followed with 15 and 13 points, respectively. White logged her second-straight double-double as she pulled down 13 rebounds.

Despite those solid offensive performances, Franklin Pierce managed just to shoot 19-of-49 from the floor (38 percent), including a 30 percent clip (3-of-10) from three-point range. The Ravens also turned the ball over 21 times.

Stonehill, though, had a strong offensive game, including shooting 53 percent (27-of-51) from the field. The Skyhawks also shot a solid 56 percent (5-of-9) from three-point range. Four Skyhawks logged double-figures in scoring and were led by Mary Louise Dixon and her team-high 17 points. Amy Pelletier knocked down 4-of-5 shots and chipped in with 13 points, while Priscilla Dodoo went 6-of-7 from the field and netted 12 points. Asia Ewing added 10 points in the winning effort.

Stonehill kicked up its offensive intensity during the midway point of the first half, going on a 16-4 run over a six-minute span and turned a 12-10 deficit into a 26-16 advantage. Pelletier and Louise Dixon bombed in back-to-back three-pointers to kick-start the rally and Tori Faieta laid in consecutive baskets to cap it.

Stonehill continued to make its shots over the final seven minutes of the half and eventually took a 37-31 lead into the locker room at halftime. Franklin Pierce's lone bright spot over those final seven minutes in the frame was the offensive play of Saab, who was determined not to let her team fall any further than the earlier 10-point deficit. She scored eight points over the final seven minutes, including a triple, a driving layup and three-consecutive free throws after being fouled on a three-point attempt.

White was Franklin Pierce's strong offensive presence in the first couple minutes of the second half as she scored four-straight points to open the frame and pull the Ravens to within two at 37-35.

Stonehill was determined not to let the Ravens retake the lead and scored six-consecutive points, including a deep three pointer from Pelletier, to go up 43-35 with 15:31 remaining. Pelletier wasn't finished from behind the arc and drained another trey moments later to extend Stonehill's advantage to 48-39.

Franklin Pierce tried to counter and got a layup from junior guard Tiffany Johnson (St. Albans, Vt.) and another three from Saab on back-to-back possessions to trim the deficit to 48-44 with 12:03 left.

Ewing laid in a basket two minutes later which sparked an 8-1 surge by Stonehill to go up 56-45 with a little more than eight minutes remaining. Dodoo also came up big during the run as she made consecutive layups to give the Skyhawks the double-digit lead.

That run would prove to be the difference in the game as Stonehill would hold serve the rest of the way in pulling out the victory. The Skyhawks kept their out between 8-to-11 points for a majority of the remaining minutes. Giroud trimmed Franklin Pierce's deficit to 60-55 with a pair of free throws at the 2:05 mark, but Ewing, Pelletier and Louise Dixon each made a pair of free throws on the next three possessions to extend Stonehill's lead and close out the win. The Skyhawks were a solid 9-of-10 shooting (90 percent) from the free throw line in the game.

Franklin Pierce returns to action Saturday when the Ravens play host to Saint Michael's at 1:30 p.m. in The Fieldhouse in Rindge. The game will be part of Rocky the Raven Kids Day, which will feature games, prizes and free giveaways for all area youth in attendance. Children will be admitted to both the men's and women's basketball for free, if accompanied by a paying adult.

For more information on Franklin Pierce women's basketball, please visit the team's page at athletics.franklinpierce.edu(.) To follow the program even further, please visit Franklin Pierce Athletics on YouTube (www.youtube.com/FranklinPierceSports), Twitter (www.twitter.com/FPUathletics) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/FranklinPierceAthletics).