Manchester, N.H (January 2. 2016) - Seniors Natalie Bastian (Branford, Conn) and Kara Charette (Fairhaven, Mass) both earned themselves a game-high 19-points as the Franklin Pierce University Ravens Women's Basketball team defeated the Saint Anselm College Hawks by a final score of 62-53 in Northeast-10 Conference play.

With the win, the Ravens improve to 5-6 overall and 3-4 in the Northeast-10, while the Hawks fall to 6-5 overall and 3-4 in conference.

The game started with a Hawks turnover that resulted in Franklin Pierce getting on the board first at the hands of Bastian. Saint Anselm would make up for the early turnover, as junior guard Candace Andrews and senior guard Raquel Johnson teamed up to score the next eight consecutive points giving Saint Anselm the 8-2 lead.

Bastian ended the Hawks scoring run with a three-pointer to put the Ravens back in striking distance, putting the score at 8-5.

Junior guard Jazmyne Fogle (Bridgeport, Conn) and senior guard Dyamond Gardner (Cambridge, Mass) picked it up from there for the Ravens, Fogle with a layup and a jump shot, and Gardner with a jump shot of her own to push past the Hawks and give the Ravens the lead with three minutes in the first quarter, 11-8.

After a brief Saint Anselm timeout, Andrews came back making a jump shot to bring the team within a point of the Ravens. But Fogle came back with a layup, and sophomore guard Jemma Thacker (Aldgate, Australia) sunk a three-pointer to extend the Ravens lead to 16-10.

The second quarter started with a 6-0 run by Franklin Pierce. Thacker started the run, followed by Charette who knocked down two free throws and a layup 30-seconds later doubling the Ravens lead, 24-12.  

Junior guard Dana Campbell (Merrick, N.Y.) sunk a three-pointer in the final seconds of the first half, capping their first half with a score at 29-19.

As the second half got underway, Bastian and Charette stole the show. Charette made two free throws before Bastian went off, hitting three three-pointers in two minutes, launching a 13-3 run for Franklin Pierce and giving them their largest lead of the game at 18 points.

The Hawks were able to put together a small run before the end of the third, bringing a Ravens lead down to 11 at 49-38. The fourth quarter started slow until Bastian sent in another three-pointer furthering the Ravens lead. Glennon knocked down another three-pointer in response in attempt to catch Franklin Pierce's lead.

Charette denied the Hawks comeback attempt with back to back layups in the last minute of the game before holding up strong at the line down the stretch.

Besides scoring 19 points apiece, Bastian and Charette were strong elsewhere. Bastian also dished out a team-high six assists, while Charette grabbed eight rebounds.

Andrews and Johnson lead the Hawks, as Johnson notched a double-double with 12-points, 10 rebounds while Andrews knocked down a team-high 14-points.

The Ravens shot 42.3% (22-52) from the field, 41.2% in three-pointers and making it to the foul line 15 times sinking 11 of those shots (73.3%). Franklin Pierce also worked play inside, and were able to get 26 points in the paint and had 18 points off the bench.

The Ravens return to the court, playing at home January 6^th at 5:30 when they play host to Adelphi.

For more information on Franklin Pierce Athletics, please visit the official website of Franklin Pierce Athletics (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu). Also be sure to follow the Ravens through the Department of Athletics' official Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/FranklinPierceRavens), its YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/franklinpiercesports) and its Twitter feed (http://twitter.com/FPUathletics). Fans wishing to purchase Franklin Pierce basketball apparel can do so at the Department of Athletics' online store (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu/store).