2006 NE-10 TOURNAMENT FIRST ROUND #9 Assumption Upsets #8 Franklin Pierce, 72-51
Ravens shoot 23.1-percent in the second half, including 1-of-16 over final 13:33
RINDGE, N.H. (February 26,2006) - Ninth-seeded Assumption College held eighth-seeded Franklin Pierce to one field goal over the final 13:33 in posting a comfortable 72-51 in first round action of the Northeast-10 Conference Woman's Basketball Tournament, Presented by Anaconda Sports, at the Franklin Pierce field house this afternoon.
Assumption (16-12, 11-11 NE-10) advances to Tuesday's quarterfinals round where it will face top-seeded and No. 18-ranked Southern Connecticut State University (24-3, 19-3 NE-10) in New Haven, Conn., at 7 p.m. Franklin Pierce (14-14, 11-11 NE-10) sees it's season come to a close after hosting an NE-10 Tournament game for the first time since joining the Conference in 2000.
Junior Jess Paulson (North Providence, R.I./LaSalle) led four Assumption players in double-figures with 15 points, hitting 4-of-6 from the floor (2-3 three's) in 20 minutes off the bench. Senior Kerry Milhaven (Wantagh, N.Y./Our Lady of Mercy) also came off the bench and netted 13 points on 4-7 shooting and two steals. Sophomore Charde Floyd (Worcester, Mass./Worcester Academy) added 11 points and six rebounds in 19 minutes, while senior Kristen DiCalogero (Walpole, Mass./Walpole) chipped in 11 points and four assists.
The Greyhounds finished shooting 54.2-percent (28-of-48) from the field for the day after hitting at 63% (17-27) in the first half. The Ravens shot 48.1% (13-27) in the opening 20 minutes, including 3-6 from the three-point range, but hit just 23.1% (6-26) over the final 20 minutes, including 1-11 (9.1%) from behind the arc.
Senior Heather Jacobs (Stoughton, Mass./Stoughton) led Franklin Pierce, filling the box score with 15 points, four rebounds, four assists, three steals and two blocks in her final collegiate game. Freshman Jennifer Leedham (Ellesmere Port, England) was the only other Raven in double-figures, finishing with ten points (nine first half), two assists and two steals. Freshman Heather Benton (Valley Springs, Calif./St. Mary's) chipped in eight points, a game-high eight rebounds (four offensive) and four steals.
The Ravens forced Assumption into 24 turnovers (13 second half), but committed 22 themselves and the Greyhounds finished with a 27-20 advantage in points off miscues. Assumption also out-rebounded the hosts 35-25.
The first half featured three ties and 14 lead changes, but Assumption ended the stanza with a 10-2 run over the last 3:01 to carry an eight-point (39-31) advantage into the locker room. Milhaven sparked the stretch with a three-pointer and two free throws.
Assumption extended its lead to 11 points (44-33) after a Beth Plasski (Fall River, Mass./Durfee) lay-up 2:57 into the second. The Ravens answered with a 10-2 run to pull within three (46-43) after a Melissa Kapela (Queens, N.Y./Christ the King) Steal and lay-up with 13:33 remaining.
Save for a Jacobs jumper with 3:43 to play, the Ravens wouldn't hit from the field the rest of the way, going 1-16, including 0-8 from three-point range. Leading by six (51-45) after Raven junior Nicole Dalton (Danbury, Conn./Ridgefield) hit a pair of free-throws, Assumption reeled off a 14-2 run to break open an 18-point bulge (65-47) after a Floyd lay-up with 6:03 to play. The basket capped a string of seven-straight points for Floyd, who converted a conventional three-point play to spark the run.