Assumption Shoots Past Franklin Pierce, 60-44
Greyhounds expand on seven-point halftime advantage early in second half
WORCESTER, Mass. (January 19, 2004) - Assumption College used a 21-5 run midway through the second half to key a 60-44 decision over Franklin Pierce in Northeast-10 Conference women's basketball action at Laska Gym tonight.
Senior forward Michelle Towne (East Taunton, Mass./Taunton) led Assumption as she recorded her ninth double-double, with game-highs of 17 points and 11 rebounds (five offensive) to go with four assists, two blocks and three steals. Towne connected on seven-of-11 shots from the field, including 3-4 from beyond the three-point line.
Sophomore guard Kerry Milhaven (Wantagh, N.Y./Our Lady of Mercy) added 12 points, three assists and three steals for the Greyhounds, while senior Katelyn Dwyer (Wakefield, Mass./Wakefield) chipped in seven points and two steals.
Junior Patricia Lang (Monroe, N.H./Saint Johnsbury Academy) led Franklin Pierce in scoring for the third-straight game as she finished with 13 points, aided by a 3-4 effort from three-point range. Freshman Danielle D'Ettorre (Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario/St. Mary's) totaled ten points, four rebounds and two assists. Classmate Mollie Stelmack (New Westminster, British Columbia/New Westminster) grabbed a team-best six rebounds to go with three points, three assists and two steals.
Assumption held a seven-point (27-21) halftime advantage, but Franklin Pierce got a three from Lang and a lay-up from senior Susan Ocitti (Cambridge, Mass./Cambridge R&L) to draw within a point (27-26) 1:19 into the second half.
The Greyhounds then connected on four-straight three-point plays (three three's and one conventional) to jump out to a 13-point edge (39-26) at the 16:29-mark. Towne, senior Margaret Liljedahl (Mattapoisett, Mass./Old Rochester) and junior Freddie Grant (Huntingdon, Quebec/Vanier) each drained three-pointers, while Dwyer scored three the conventional way during the rally.
After a D'Ettorre jumper pulled Franklin Pierce within 11 (39-28) with 12:57 to play, a 17-5 Assumption run over the next seven minutes put the Greyhounds up by 23 (56-33) with 5:03 to play.
Franklin Pierce (6-10, 2-9 NE-10) looks to end its current season-long five-game losing streak on Thursday when it hosts American International College at 5:30 p.m. Assumption (12-5, 8-4 NE-10) hosts UMass Lowell on Thursday at 5:30 p.m.