Ravens turn 33 Dolphin turnovers into 31 points at the other end, hold opponent to season-low point total

RINDGE, N.H. (December 4, 2007) – Franklin Pierce University, among teams receiving votes in this week’s USA Today/ESPN/WBCA Division II poll, is off to a 6-1 start for the second-straight year after posting a 59-37 victory over Le Moyne College in Northeast-10 Conference women’s basketball action at the Fieldhouse tonight.

Franklin Pierce forced Le Moyne into 33 turnovers, while the Dolphins connected on just 14 field goals (44 attempts, 31.8%), as the Ravens posted a 31-9 advantage in points off turnovers for the night. Franklin Pierce totaled 18 steals in the victory.

Sophomore All-American Johannah Leedham (Ellesmere Port, England/Cheshire Academy (Conn.)) led all scorers with 20 points, shooting 9-for-18 from the floor, to go with six steals, four assists, three rebounds and two blocked shots. Junior Jennifer Leedham (Ellesmere Port, England/Cheshire Academy (Conn.)) added 11 points (5-8 FG’s), five rebounds and five steals, while classmate Vanessa Power (Mildura, Australia) chipped in eight points off the bench.

No Le Moyne players reached double-figures in scoring, led by sophomore Megan Murphy (Clinton Corners, N.Y./Millbrook) with seven points, four rebounds and two steals off the bench. Junior Katie Dunn (Whippany, N.J./Morris Catholic) also came off the bench for seven points.

Franklin Pierce never trailed, building a 14-point first half advantage (31-17) with 1:53 to play in the first half and never looked back. Leading by two (17-15) with 6:31 left in the first half, the Ravens posted a 14-2 run to gain that 14-point edge. Johannah Leedham scored eight points during that stretch, while sister, Jennifer, added five, including a conventional three-point play to spark things.

Le Moyne never got closer than ten points (24-seconds in) during the second half as Franklin Pierce gained a 21-point advantage (44-23) after a Johannah Leedham jumper with 13:04 to play.

Franklin Pierce (6-1, 4-1 NE-10) returns to action on Saturday, when it hosts the College of Saint Rose at 1:30 p.m. Le Moyne (3-3, 2-3 NE-10) hosts Saint Michael’s College on Saturday at 1 p.m.