Jo. Leedham leads Ravens past defending National Champions with 24 points

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (January 5, 2008) – Franklin Pierce University, ranked 23rd in this week’s USA Today/ESPN/WBCA Division II poll, closed out a season-long five game road trip with a key 83-64 victory at 10th-ranked and defending NCAA Division II National Champion Southern Connecticut State University in Northeast-10 Conference women’s basketball action at Moore Fieldhouse this afternoon.

The Top 25 match-up also featured opposing All-Americans in Franklin Pierce sophomore Johannah Leedham (Ellesmere Port, England/Cheshire Academy (Conn.)) and Southern Connecticut State senior Kate Lynch (Rumford, R.I./LaSalle Academy). Leedham finished with a game-high 24 points on 8-of-15 shooting from the field, including 2-for-3 from three-point range, converting all six free-throws to go with seven rebounds, five assists and five steals. Lynch led Southern with 22 points on 8-of-19 shooting overall, including 2-for-3 from beyond the arc, to go with four rebounds, three assists and three steals.

Junior Vanessa Power (Mildura, Australia) added a season-high 15 points for the Ravens on 6-of-11 shooting, 3-6 from three-point range, three rebounds and two steals. Freshman Tori Ahrens (East Greenwich, R.I./East Greenwich) notched her first collegiate double-double with season-best totals of 13 points and ten rebounds (six offensive). Senior Josie Lidke (Chaska, Minn./Chaska) chipped in with 11 points, hitting all five shots from the field, including a three-pointer, to go with four rebounds.

Senior Kaylie Schiavetta (Northport, N.Y.), a transfer from the University of Massachusetts, added 11 points for the Owls as she connected on 3-of-6 three-pointers and dished three assists.

Franklin Pierce benefited from 56.4-percent (31-of-55) shooting from the field for the day, including a blistering 64.3% (18-28) in the opening half, and converted 6-of-11 (54.5%) from three-point range. Southern came out firing in the first half as well, shooting at 64% (16-25), but cooled off considerably in the second, hitting just 23.1% (9-39) of its shots over the final 20 minutes to finish with a 39.1% (25-64) shooting performance for the day. The Owls also made just 3-of-14 (21.4%) three-pointers in the second half after converting 5-10 (50%) in the opening frame.

Franklin Pierce turned the ball over two more times (23-21) than Southern, but posted a 29-17 in points off turnovers. The Ravens also enjoyed a 14-6 advantage in second-chance points and their bench out-scored the Owl reserves 35-10.

Southern held the early momentum in the contest, using an 11-2 run to open a game-high ten point advantage (22-12) 7:45 into the game. Lynch and freshman Logan Lentz (Chambersburg, Pa./Chambersburg) canned three’s during that stretch and Lentz added a conventional three-point play.

Franklin Pierce drew within a point (37-36) after a pair of Leedham free throws with 3:56 to go in the half and the Ravens scored ten of the last 12 points in the frame to take a six point edge (45-39) into the lockerroom. Leedham scored six of the Ravens ten points during that stretch.

The Franklin Pierce lead was still six (49-43) just over three minutes into the second half, before the Ravens scored six-straight points to open a 12-point lead (55-43) with 13:10 to play. Southern was within nine (62-53) after a lay-up by sophomore Jacqueline Johannes (Southbury, Conn./Pomperaug) with 8:08 left, but Franklin Pierce posted a 12-2 run to open a 19-point bulge (74-55) and break the game open with 4:43 remaining. Power canned two three’s and Leedham added a trifecta, while Ahrens netted three points during the game-deciding stretch.

Franklin Pierce (12-1, 7-1 NE-10) returns home for the first time in a month when it hosts preseason NE-10 favorites Bentley College, among teams receiving votes in this week’s national poll, on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. Southern Connecticut State (10-4, 6-3 NE-10) is back in action on Thursday when it hosts Le Moyne College at 5:30 p.m.