Jennifer Leedham nets season-high 24 points as Ravens roll

WATERBURY, Conn. (December 14, 2007) – Franklin Pierce University, among teams receiving votes in this week’s USA Today/ESPN/WBCA Division II poll, cruised to a 93-28 victory over Post University in non-conference women’s basketball action at the Drubner Center tonight.

Junior captain Jennifer Leedham (Ellesmere Port, England/Cheshire Academy (Conn.)) scored a season-high 24 points as she connected on 11-of-14 shots from the field, including 2-of-4 three’s, to go with four rebounds, three assists and three steals. Sophomore All-American Johannah Leedham (Ellesmere Port, England/Cheshire Academy (Conn.)) scored 13 points, including the 800th of her career, on 6-9 shooting from the field to go with seven rebounds, six assists and three steals in just 17 minutes of action.

Senior Angelica Benjamin (Fremont, Calif./James Logan) netted a career-best 11 points, aided by 7-of-9 shooting at the free-throw line, to go with eight rebounds in 16 minutes off the bench for the Ravens. Sophomore Alexis Auffray (Cornwall, N.Y./Cornwall Central) came within a steal of a double-double with career high totals of ten points and nine steals to go with three rebounds and three assists. Sophomore Jess McPherson (Croydon, Australia) chipped in nine points and eight rebounds in 14 minutes.

Jennifer Leedham (23 minutes) was the lone Franklin Pierce player to play over 20 minutes on the night. The Ravens shot 50-percent or better from the field for the third-straight outing, hitting that mark exactly (34-for-68), while draining 18-of-23 free-throw attempts (78.3%). Post was held to 22-percent (11-for-50) shooting from the field, including 4-for-28 (14.3%) in the opening half. The Eagles were outscored 33-7 off turnovers and 41-8 in the paint.

No Post players reached double-figures, with senior Jackie Sutton (Dryden, N.Y./Tompkins-Cortland CC) and freshman Mallorie Michalak (Meriden, Conn./Platt) each scoring a team-best six points. Sophomore Kendra Pitts (Detroit, Mich./Indiana Tech) chipped in five points, seven rebounds and two assists.

Senior Jennifer Rose (New City, N.Y./Clarkstown North) hit a three-pointer 34-seconds into the contest to give Post a 3-2 lead, but the advantage was short-lived as Franklin Pierce scored the next 16 points to assume control of the game for good. Jennifer Leedham scored seven points during the run. Franklin Pierce led 44-10 at halftime.

Franklin Pierce (9-1, 6-1 NE-10) returns to action after Christmas when it participates in the Pace University Holiday Classic December 29 and 30. The Ravens face host Pace on the 29th at 2 p.m. Franklin Pierce does not return home until January 8 when they host preseason NE-10 favorites Bentley College at 5:30 p.m. Post (0-6, 0-2 CACC) visits Bryant University next Thursday at 5:30 p.m.