Jewel White is averaging 28.3 points in her last three games versus Stonehill dating back to last season

Tiffany Johnson had 13 points and six rebounds in Tuesday's win over Stonehill.

RINDGE, N.H. (November 22, 2011) -- The No. 17 nationally ranked Franklin Pierce University women's basketball team came out firing on all cylinders in the first 10 minutes of Tuesday night's game with Stonehill and hung on for an 81-67 win over the Skyhawks at The Fieldhouse in Rindge. The Ravens improved to 2-0 overall and 2-0 in the Northeast-10, while Stonehill fell to 3-2 and 0-2 in league play.

Senior center Jewel White (Worcester, Mass.) had an outstanding game for the Ravens as she tossed in 36 points on 10-of-17 shooting from the floor and ripped down 19 rebounds. She was also a strong 16-of-19 from the free throw line, while also blocking a shot. White has been an offensive force versus Stonehill over the last three games dating back to last season. In two of those three contests she has notched double-doubles, while averaging 28.3 points during that span.

Two other Ravens scored in double-figures Tuesday night, including senior Marielle Giroud (Martigny, Switzerland) and junior Tiffany Johnson (St. Albans, Vt.), who had 13 points apiece. Johnson also added six rebounds, two steals and an assist. Giroud pulled down five rebounds before fouling out late in the game.

Three Skyhawks scored in double-figures, led by Tori Faieta's team-high 15 points. Asia Ewing and Tania Williams followed with 14 and 11 points, respectively.

Franklin Pierce came out white hot offensively in the opening 10 minutes as it shot 75 percent from the floor, including 83 percent from behind the arc, while building a 33-10 lead. Sophomore guard Kate McDonald (Fall River, Mass.) hit back-to-back three-pointers to start the game, while White, Giroud and Johnson each added multiple layups during the early surge. Giroud added a three-point play on a layup and free throw late in the run, while White capped it with a drop-step layup in the post.

Stonehill tried to claw its way back into the game late in the first half, but could never mount a rally. Franklin Pierce, though, continued to add to its lead and went up by 32 with 3:20 to go in the frame when Giroud converted a pair of free throws to put the Ravens up 54-22.

The Ravens took a 56-30 lead into the locker room at halftime, thanks in large part to an impressive 66 percent shooting from the field (19-of-29), including a 63-percent effort from three-point range (7-of-11). Seven Ravens scored during the opening 20 minutes, including White's team-best 17 points.

Stonehill didn't quit in the second half and threatened to make it a game. The Skyhawks slowly chipped away at the deficit, including cutting Franklin Pierce's lead to as little as 11 points on multiple occasions. However, each time the Ravens would convert their free throws to extend their advantage and seal the win.

Franklin Pierce outrebounded Stonehill by a count of 40-33 and finished the game shooting a solid 49 percent (25-of-51) from the floor. The Ravens defense held Stonehill to 38 percent shooting (25-of-66), including a 23 percent clip (3-of-13) from the arc. The Ravens also ran their winning streak to eight games over Stonehill.

Franklin Pierce returns to action Sunday when the Ravens travel to Colchester, Vt., to face Saint Michael's at 1:30 p.m.

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/FranklinPierceAthletics).