Franklin Pierce Holds Off Saint Michael’s, 73-69, in OT
Power nets career-best 28 points, including game-tying three at the buzzer to force OT
RINDGE, N.H. (February 20, 2007) - Franklin Pierce rounded out the regular season with a 73-69 overtime victory against Saint Michael's College in Northeast-10 Conference women's basketball action at the Fieldhouse tonight.
Franklin Pierce (17-10, 13-9 NE-10) has earned the eighth seed for the upcoming NE-10 Tournament and will host ninth-seeded Assumption College (12-15, 9-13 NE-10) in a first round game at the Fieldhouse Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. Saint Michael's (11-15, 8-14 NE-10) will be the tenth seed in the NE-10 Tournament and travels to face seventh Bryant University on Sunday in the first round at 2 p.m. The winner of the Ravens/Assumption game will advance to face top-seeded and No. 8-ranked Southern Connecticut State University (25-2, 20-2 NE-10) in quarterfinal round action on Tuesday, February 27, at 7 p.m. The St. Michael's/Bryant winner advances to face second-seeded College of Saint Rose on Tuesday in the quarters.
Tonight, sophomore Vanessa Power (Mildura, Australia) led Franklin Pierce to victory with a career-best 28 points, including 21 after halftime and seven of the Ravens ten points in overtime. She knocked down a three-pointer as time expired in the second half to force overtime. Power also collected three assists and three steals on the night.
Sophomore Jennifer Leedham (Ellesmere Port, England/Cheshire Academy) added 14 points and five assists for the Ravens, while junior Josie Lidke (Chaska, Minn./Chaska) contributed ten points, eight rebounds (four offensive), four assists and two steals. Sophomore Toby Martin (Wayne, Maine/Maranacook) chipped in ten points off the bench, while senior Nicola Dalton (Danbury, Conn./Ridgefield) grabbed a career-best 12 rebounds.
Sophomore Michelle Otey (Southborough, Mass./Algonquin Regional) led Saint Michael's with a career-best 18 points, hitting 6-of-10 shots from the field and converting all six free-throw attempts, to go with eight rebounds (six offensive) off the bench. Senior Jevy Rayner (Westminster, Vt./Bellows Falls Union) added 12 points, on 4-7 shooting from the field, including 2-2 from three-point range, and a team-high nine rebounds. Senior Dani Rayner (Westminster, Vt./Bellows Falls Union) chipped in six points, seven rebounds, five assists and two blocked shots.
Franklin Pierce took advantage of 24 Saint Michael's miscues, posting a 27-19 advantage in points off turnovers. The Ravens shot 41.1-percent (23-56) from the field, including 52.2% (12-23) in the second half. The Purple Knights hit 37.9% (22-58) of their shots from the field, including 50% (13-26) in building a 36-31 halftime lead. The contest featured five ties and 11 lead changes throughout.
Jevy Rayner drained a three-pointer 24-seconds into the second half as Saint Michael's matched its largest lead of the night at eight points (39-31). An Allison Dunn (Whippany, N.J./Morris Catholic) three-pointer put the Purple Knights up seven (44-37) with 15:09 left in regulation, but Franklin Pierce held them scoreless over the next eight minutes during a 19-0 run that gave the Ravens a game-high 12-point (56-44) bulge with 7:01 to play in the half. Power, Martin and Leedham all drained three's to spark the run.
Saint Michael's answered with a 17-4 run, capped by an Otey jumper in the paint that put the Purple Knights back in front (61-60) with 26-seconds to play. Franklin Pierce turned the ball over on its next two possessions, but SMC made just two-of-four free-throw attempts, leaving the door open for Power's heroics as time expired to force the extra period.
Franklin Pierce took immediate control of the overtime period, with Dalton and Power converting free-throws to put the hosts up four (67-63) 50-seconds in. Otey hit a jumper to pull Saint Michael's within two on its next possession, but Power drained a three and added a layup off her own steal to put the Ravens up seven (72-65) with 2:41 to play.
Meg O'Shea (West Sand Lake, N.Y./Averill Park) connected with a three-pointer to draw Saint Michael's within three (72-69) with 1:33 to go. Franklin Pierce hit just 1-of-4 free-throws in the final 33-seconds, but the Purple Knights couldn't take advantage, missing their last three shots and turning the ball over once in the final minute.