Tiffany Johnson goes for double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds

WESTWEGO, La. (December 30, 2012) -- The Franklin Pierce University women's basketball team rebounded on Sunday with a 57-41 win over Dillard on the final day of the 2012 Big Easy Challenge at the Alario Center in Westwego, La. The Ravens, who suffered a 70-60 setback to Young Harris on Saturday in the challenge, improved to 6-4 with the win over the Bleu Devils. Dillard fell to 2-10.

Three Ravens scored in double-figures as Franklin Pierce shot a solid 41 percent (21-of-51) from the field. Freshman center Kara Charette (Fairhaven, Mass.) dropped in 18 points on a strong 6-of-8 shooting from the field, while also collecting three rebounds.

Senior guard Tiffany Johnson (St. Albans, Vt.) had a strong all-around game by recording double-figures in both points (15) and rebounds (11). She was a solid 6-of-9 shooting from the floor, while also swiping four steals.

Junior backcourt-mate Brittany Martelle (Brookfield, Conn.) came off the bench to bomb in a pair of three-pointers and total 12 points.

Franklin Pierce also held an impressive 44-30 advantage on the boards. In addition to Johnson's 11 rebounds, junior guard Brooke Coderre (Woonsocket, R.I.) collected seven boards. Sophomore forward Caitlin Hopkins (Holtsville, N.Y.) and junior guard Kate McDonald (Fall River, Mass.) logged six and five rebounds, respectively.

Jazzmin Smith paced Dillard's offensive attack as she was her team's lone double-figure scorer with a game-high 20 points. The Bleu Devils struggled mightily on the offensive end by committing 17 turnovers and shooting just 25 percent (13-of-53) from the field. 

The Ravens jumped all over the Bleu Devils by scoring 20 of the game's first 23 points 10 minutes into the contest. Charette logged the opening five points with back-to-back layups and a free throw sandwiched between the two.

Johnson put in six points to aid the surge, while Martelle threw in both of her triples during that time. Senior guard Brooke Long (Richmond, Va.) also added a trey to help the Ravens take the early upperhand.

Dillard tried to claw back and reeled off 10-straight points to pull within seven at 20-13 with 7:25 left until halftime. Smith had eight of her team's 10 points during the run.

Franklin Pierce, though, didn't flinch and went back to work, this time using a 14-4 rally to close out the half and build a 34-17 lead at the intermission. Charette, Johnson and sophomore guard Dyamond Gardner (Cambridge, Mass.) netted four points apiece in the half's closing run.

The Bleu Devils failed to mount a meaningful run in the second half to make it a game. Dillard was able to pull within seven at 48-41 with 5:05 left, but the Ravens scored the contest's final nine points to end the threat and seal the victory. Johnson keyed the final run with a three-pointer.

Franklin Pierce returns to action next Sunday when the Ravens play host to Saint Michael's at 1:30 p.m. in The Fieldhouse in Rindge.

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/FranklinPierceRavens). Fans wishing to purchase Franklin Pierce women's basketball apparel can do so on the athletic department's online store at athletics.franklinpierce.edu/store(.)