Lipinski Double-Doubles, Two Others Tally Double Figures in Ravens Win

This Franklin Pierce University women's basketball recap is presented by Belletetes

RINDGE, N.H. (November 16, 2018) – Franklin Pierce University women's basketball freshman forward Izzy Lipinski (Farmington, Conn.) led three double-digit scorers with a game-high 16 points and 12 rebounds as the Ravens bested non-conference opponent Nyack College 77-65 Friday evening at the Fieldhouse.

The win, Ravens first of the season stopped a 22 game losing skid and moves the Crimson and Grey to 1-3. The setback drops the guest Warriors to 0-3. FPU's 77 points were the most they put up in a game since the team racked up 76 markers in a 76-69 victory against Northeast-10 Conference opponent Southern New Hampshire University on February 15, 2017.

Lipinski's 16 point, 12 board showing was the first double-double of her collegiate career. She shot an efficient 7-of-10 (70.0%) from the hardwood while providing a match-best three blocks and two steals. Four of her 12 caroms came on the offensive end, a game-high.

Classmate Lisa Sulejmani (Burlington, Vt.) recorded 13 points in her first ever start, all 13 points came in the second half. Sulejmani did most of her damage at the charity stripe knocking down 7-of-8 (87.5%) free attempts. Team captain Mya Mosley (Worcester, Mass.) filled the stat sheet producing 12 points, a career-high nine assists, five boards, three blocks, and one steal in 31 minutes.

Sophomore guard Sophia Holmes (Oakland, Maine) and freshman forward Emma Carter (Bristol, Vt.) chipped in off the bench. Holmes netted nine points shooting 4-of-5 (80.0%) including one three-pointer in 14 minutes of play draining two buzzer-beating layups in the first half while Carter tallied seven markers, four boards (three offensive), one assist and one block across 13 minutes.

For Nyack, Sarah Wilson totaled 16 points, two rebounds, two steals and one assist. The Ravens took high percentage shots in this duel shooting 50.9% from the floor including a 6-of-12 (50.0%) mark from beyond the arc. The Ravens were not afraid to make the extra pass notching 24 assists on 27 field goal conversions. FPU dominated Nyack in the paint outscoring their counterparts 40-18 in the low post.

In the first quarter, both teams failed to connect on the opening six shots of the game. Wilson gave Nyack the early by slashing through the right side to the cup for two. FPU manufactured eight straight points playing a run and gun style of basketball getting quickly up the court and pounding the rock down low on the blocks to lead 8-2 halfway through the quarter.

The squads swapped possessions and points until Holmes checked into the game and made her presence felt immediately. Holmes hit on a wing trey to give the Ravens a five-point 13-8 edge. An Elle Nittinger three-pointer cut the Warrior deficit to three, until Holmes took a feed from Mosley, ran past the Warrior press and scooped a last-second layup from the right foul line off the glass and in as Pierce was in front 17-11 following the opening 10 minutes.

Nyack began the second stanza going on a 10-4 scoring spurt to deadlock the score 21-21 via a Jocelin Wright lay-in. Back-to-back three-balls by Hannah Everidge (Baldwinville, Mass.) off a Freya Cooney (Woodbridge, England) feed from the post and a Mosley right wing inbounds play connection pushed Pierce ahead by two possessions 27-21. The Warriors stormed back to regain the lead for the final time in the contest on the strength of an 11-3 run capped off by two Wilson freebies. Holmes again capitalized at the end of the period as she blew past her defender on the left side to the rack for two to knot the score at 32 at the intermission.

Mosley regained the two-possession lead for her squad as she corralled a skip pass from Holmes in transition burying a three at the left wing. With the Ravens ahead by only two, Mosley stuffed two consecutive shot attempts on a defensive possession to stifle the Warriors offensive set. The Pierce press steered the hosts to a 9-2 mini-binge and a run-capping Sulejmani elbow jumper around a Lipinski screen to push the Ravens ahead by nine, 48-39. Four straight Wilson markers brought the Warrior deficit to three, 50-47. Holmes again came up clutch in the final seconds scoring a fast-break layup with 17 ticks left reestablishing the five-point Raven lead.

Nyack notched three freebies to start the fourth and final quarter as the Ravens lead was two, 52-50. Lipinski and Everidge spearheaded the Ravens game-clinching 17-2 run when Lipinski used a nifty spin move on the low block and Everidge received a dribble handoff for three on the right wing from Rylee Skinner (Leominster, Mass.). A Mosley and Demi Akins (Cambridge, Mass.) halfcourt trap proved key in the binge leading to another Carter fast break two, giving FPU their first double-digit advantage of the game. Cooney capped the spurt by running the floor and playing give and go with Mosley to expand the FPU edge to 17, 69-52. The closest the Warriors would come was 10 points, 75-65 at the 29-second mark.

Cooney scored eight points while dishing out four assists and snagging four boards across 23 minutes.

The Ravens head back on the road Tuesday when they travel to Saint Michael's College for a 5:30 p.m. conference showdown.

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 women's basketball apparel can do so at the Department of Athletics' online store (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu/store). You can also follow the women's basketball team on Twitter (https://twitter.com/FPURavensWBB) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/franklin_pierce_wbb/).