Southern N.H. Edges Franklin Pierce, 73-67 (2OT)
Penmen survive double-overtime matchup that featured ten ties and 14 lead changes
MANCHESTER, N.H. (February 18, 2006) - Southern New Hampshire University led much of the way but endured two extra periods to collect its third-straight win over regionally-ranked opponents with a 73-67 double-overtime decision over Franklin Pierce, ranked tenth in this week's NCAA Division II Northeast Regional poll, in Northeast-10 Conference women's basketball action at SNHU Fieldhouse this afternoon.
While Southern New Hampshire secured its first-ever NE-10 Tournament berth with today's win, Franklin Pierce remained tied for seventh, but it's now a three-way deadlock as Assumption College defeated Merrimack College and the College of Saint Rose fell to Saint Anselm College this afternoon. All three teams complete their schedules on Tuesday night. The Ravens can finish as high as sixth or as low as ninth depending on the outcomes.
Freshman Alyssa Whitney (Somerville, Mass./Arlington Catholic) led SNHU with 15 points on 6-of-10 shooting from the field, to go with six rebounds (four offensive) and four assists. Classmate Stephanie Houghton (Manchester, N.H./Manchester West) came off the bench and netted a team-high 16 points to go with four rebounds and three steals. Senior Chrisondria Griffith (Brockton, Mass./Brockton) registered a double-double with ten points and a game-high 16 rebounds (six offensive).
Junior Danielle D'Ettorre (Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario/St. Mary's) led Franklin Pierce with 18 points and five rebounds, while senior Heather Jacobs (Stoughton, Mass./Stoughton) netted 15 points. Senior Maria Clifton (New York, N.Y./Saint Michael's Academy) registered 13 points and five rebounds, while freshman Heather Benton (Valley Springs, Calif./St. Mary's) chipped in a season-high 12 rebounds (seven offensive) to go with six points.
Franklin Pierce shot just 35.7-percent (25-of-70) from the field, including 27.6% (8-29) in the first half, and converted just 2-of-18 (11.1%) from three-point range. SNHU shot 44.3% (27-61) for the day, including 47.2% (17-36) after halftime. The Penmen were 6-for-18 (33.3%) from long-distance, including 3-6 in the two overtime periods, and out-rebounded the Ravens 45-40.
Southern New Hampshire led the entire first half, with the exception of three ties, and was up six (50-44) with 3:35 on the clock after a Whitley lay-up capped a 13-3 run after Franklin Pierce had taken its largest lead of the game (41-37) on a Clifton three-point play with 9:32 to go. Clifton forged the seventh tie of the second half alone (52-52) with a free throw with 50-seconds left in regulation. She missed the second attempt that would have put the Ravens up for good.
The Penmen took immediate control of the first overtime thanks to an Alex Giannopoulou (Thessaloniki, Greece) three-pointer 18-seconds in. The Ravens scored four-straight, capped by a Stephanie Bergeron (Pointe Claire, Quebec/Dawson College) three-pointer to take a lead of their own (56-55) with 3:28 left. The hosts were again up three (61-58) after a Houghton three with 1:19 left, but the Ravens rallied again with D'Ettorre getting fouled while shooting a three-pointer with two seconds left. She drained all three to force a second overtime.
D'Ettorre gave the Ravens the early advantage in this frame with a jumper on their first possession, but SNHU outscored the visitors 10-2 the rest of the way to secure the win. Giannopoulou netted five of the Penmen's ten points in the frame.
Franklin Pierce (14-12, 11-10 NE-10) rounds out the regular season on Tuesday when it hosts UMass Lowell at 5:30 p.m. Southern New Hampshire (9-18, 7-15 NE-10) completes its regular season schedule with today's win and awaits its first round opponent for the NE-10 Tournament next Sunday.