Leedhams lead the way for Ravens as Jennifer nets 18
and Johannah collects double-double

Boxscore 

COLCHESTER, Vt. (November 15, 2008) - Reigning regional champions Franklin Pierce, ranked No. 4 in the USA Today/ESPN/WBCA Division II preseason poll, got its 2008-2009 season off to a good start with a 73-43 victory over Queens (N.Y.) College at the Doubletree Hotels Tip-off Classic, hosted by Saint Michael's College, at Ross Sports Center this afternoon.

Franklin Pierce was led by the sister combination of senior Jennifer and junior All-American Johannah Leedham (Ellesmere Port, England/Cheshire Academy (Conn.)). Jennifer led all scorers with 18 points on 6-of-11 shooting from the field, including 3-for-5 from three-point range, while converting 3-of-4 free-throw attempts. She also collected six assists and four steals. Johannah, the 2007-08 State Farm/WBCA Division II Player of the Year, posted a double-double effort of 11 points and ten rebounds. It marked the third-straight game, dating back to the 2008 NCAA Tournament, Leedham has posted a double-double (19^th career) and she has now netted double-figure points in all 59 games of her collegiate career.

Senior Vanessa Power (Mildura, Australia) added 12 points on 4-of-9 shooting from the field, including 2-for-6 from three-point range. Sophomore Tori Ahrens (East Greenwich, R.I./East Greenwich) chipped in eight points and eight rebounds (four offensive) and two blocked shots.

Junior Kara Otterbine (Wayne, N.J./DePaul Catholic) led Queens with a double-double performance of 12 points, aided by 6-for-8 shooting at the free-throw line, and a game-high 14 rebounds to go with three steals. Sophomore Amanda Bartlett (Mesa, Ariz./Red Mountain) led the Knights with 15 points to go with four rebounds.

Franklin Pierce hit 44.3-percent (27-for-61) of its shots from the field on the afternoon, including 51.7% (15-for-29) in the first half as the Ravens built a 42-22 lead at the break. Queens finished shooting 23.4-percent (11-for-47) for the day, including 16% (4-for-25) in the second half. The Knights were also hampered by 32 turnovers, which resulted in a 39-17 disadvantage in points off turnovers.

Franklin Pierce led by two (18-16) with 7:04 left in the first half, but broke the game open with a 16-0 run over the next three-plus minutes to open an 18-point advantage (34-16) after a Power three-pointer with 3:51 left in the stanza. Jennifer Leedham had five points during the run, including a conventional three-point play, while Power finished with five points in the stretch as well. Junior Rachel Kimball (Schenectady, N.Y./Monohasen) sent the Ravens into the locker room with a 20 point lead with a three-pointer with three-seconds to play.

A 10-0 spurt early in the second half pushed the Franklin Pierce lead to 30-points (56-26) after a Melissa Kapela (Queens, N.Y./Christ the King) jumper with 13:12 to play. The Ravens lead peaked at 38 (68-30) after a Johannah Leedham lay-up with 6:11 left, before settling on the final 30-point margin.

Franklin Pierce (1-0, 0-0 NE-10) opens its Northeast-10 Conference and home schedule on Wednesday when it hosts the University of Massachusetts Lowell at the Fieldhouse as part of "Pierce Pride" Night at 5:30 p.m. Queens (0-1, 0-0 ECC) faces host Saint Michael's College tomorrow at 1 p.m.