Jo. Leedham becomes fastest in program history to reach 1,000-point plateau

ALBANY, N.Y. (January 26, 2008) – Franklin Pierce University, ranked 20th in this week’s USA Today/ESPN/WBCA Division II poll, dropped into third place in the Conference standings after dropping a 73-66 decision at The College of Saint Rose in Northeast-10 women’s basketball action at Daniel P. Nolan Gymnasium this afternoon.

Despite the loss, Franklin Pierce sophomore All-American Johannah Leedham (Ellesmere Port, England/Cheshire Academy) became the fastest player in program history to reach the 1,000-point plateau and the 18th player in program history overall to reach the milestone. She did so with two free throws with 4:25 to play in regulation that pulled the Ravens within four points (60-56). Leedham is now tied for 17th in program history with her 1,000 career points along with Peggy McCarthy (1983-87).

Leedham finished with 14 points, aided by a 10-of-11 effort at the free-throw line to go with eight rebounds, eight assists and two steals. Freshman Tori Ahrens (East Greenwich, R.I./East Greenwich) posted her second double-double of the year with season-high totals of 14 points and 13 rebounds to go with three steals and a blocked shot in her first collegiate start. Junior Jennifer Leedham (Ellesmere Port, England/Cheshire Academy) added 12 points on 4-of-7 shooting from the floor, including 2-4 from three-point range, to go with two steals.

Junior Dana Brown (Elmont, N.Y./Elmont Memorial) led for Saint Rose players in double-figures with 20 points on 6-for-13 shooting from the field, including 3-of-5 from three-point range, and a 5-6 effort at the line. Senior Emily Gottstein (Albany, N.Y./Holy Names) posted a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds to go, while sophomore Elizabeth Buckley (East Lyme, Conn./East Lyme) added 15 points, two blocked shots and two steals. Junior Ashley Anderson (Portland, Maine/Portland) and freshman Amy Voelkel (Mohegan Lake, N.Y./Lakeland) both came within either a point or rebound from a double-double as Anderson finished with 11 points, nine rebounds and three steals, while Voelkel chipped in nine points, a game-high 14 rebounds, four assists and two steals.

Neither team shot well in the contest, with Franklin Pierce hitting 38.5-percent (20-for-52) of its shots from the field, including 3-of-13 (23.1%) from three-point range. Saint Rose made 36.8-percent (25-68) of its shots from the floor, including 6-of-19 (31.6%) from three-point range. The Ravens out-scored the Golden Knights 23 (on 32 attempts) to 17 (21 attempts) at the free-throw line. Saint Rose posted a 28-16 scoring advantage in points off turnovers and a 20-6 edge in second chance points. Saint Rose out-rebounded Franklin Pierce 50-35, including 23-22 on the Golden Knights end of the floor, while the Ravens committed 26 turnovers to 23 for the hosts.

Franklin Pierce trailed at halftime for just the third time this season (32-29), but a Jennifer Leedham three to start the half sparked a 13-5 run over the first five minutes of the second half to give the Ravens a game-high five-point lead (42-37). Johannah Leedham, who missed her first seven shots from the field of the game, converted a conventional three-point play during the run to end her shooting slump, as well.

Neither team scored over the next two minutes of play, before Brown ended the drought with two free throws that started an 18-5 Saint Rose run that put the hosts up a game-high nine points (56-47) with 8:02 to play. Brown totaled 12 points in all during that stretch, while Buckley hit a key three-pointer.

Franklin Pierce drew within three (60-57) with 3:36 to play after Jennifer Leedham made one of two at the free-throw line, but Saint Rose answered with six-straight points to regain its nine-point advantage (66-57) after a Gottstein put back with 2:24 to go. The Golden Knights made seven of eight free throws down the stretch to seal the upset.

Franklin Pierce (15-4, 10-4 NE-10) rounds out its three game road trip on Wednesday against Pace University at 5:30 p.m. The Ravens return home next Saturday, February 2, to host the University of Massachusetts Lowell at 1:30 p.m. Saint Rose (9-9, 6-8 NE-10) visits Southern Connecticut State University on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.