RINDGE, N.H. (2/4/26) – The Franklin Pierce University women's basketball team put together stretches of strong play on Wednesday night but ultimately came up short against American International College, falling 77–58 in Northeast-10 action at The Fieldhouse. A balanced scoring effort and a competitive third quarter highlighted the night for the Ravens, who continued to show growth despite the final result.
AIC opened the game with a fast offensive pace, using early perimeter shooting and transition opportunities to take a 20–15 lead after the first quarter. Franklin Pierce kept the margin close behind threes from
Angelisse Melendez (Manchester, Conn.) and steady play from
Emily Mennillo (Orange, Conn.), who added five early points and four rebounds.
The Yellow Jackets extended their lead in the second quarter, outscoring the Ravens 24–13 to build a 44–28 halftime advantage. Franklin Pierce generated quality looks from deep—going 3-for-7 from three in the frame—but AIC's interior scoring and second-chance opportunities kept the visitors in control.
Franklin Pierce responded with its strongest stretch of the night in the third quarter, matching AIC with 17 points.
Liv Murray (Salem, N.H.) provided a spark off the bench with five points in the period, while
Jaylene Pires (Yarmouth Port, Mass.) anchored the interior with a game-high 10 rebounds. Mennillo and
Armani Rivera (Pawtucket, R.I.) added key baskets as the Ravens stabilized the pace and kept the deficit manageable entering the fourth.
AIC closed the game with a composed final quarter, holding Franklin Pierce to 13 points while maintaining its lead through consistent execution on both ends.
Mennillo and Melendez led the Ravens with 12 points each, combining for five made threes. Murray added 8 points and a steal, while Pires finished with 5 points and 10 rebounds. Franklin Pierce totaled 23 bench points, 16 second-chance points, and shot 34.5% from three (10-for-29).
UP NEXT FOR THE RAVENS: The Ravens remain at home as they prepare to host Bentley in their next NE10 matchup, looking to build on their third-quarter momentum and defend The Fieldhouse. If someone could post