Jo. Leedham returns to lead Ravens with game-high 27 points

Boxscore 

MESA, Ariz. (December 29, 2008) - Franklin Pierce University, ranked No. 23 in the most recent USA Today/ESPN/WBCA Division II poll, rolled to an 85-59 victory over 15^th-ranked Shippensburg University on day one of the 2008 Trip Sports Grand Canyon Classic at Skyline High School late Sunday night.

Junior All-American and Great Britain international Johannah Leedham (Ellesmere Port, England/Cheshire Academy (Conn.)) returned to the Franklin Pierce lineup after a minor injury and poured in a game-high 27 points (20 first half) in 23 minutes as she hit 9-of-15 shots from the field, including 3-for-6 from three-point range, and converted all six free-throw attempts. She also added six rebounds, two assists and two blocked shots for the Ravens.

Sophomore Tori Ahrens (East Greenwich, R.I./East Greenwich) notched her first double-double of the season for the Ravens (third career) with ten points and a game and season-best 12 rebounds in 16 minutes. Senior Toby Martin (Wayne, Maine/Maranacook) added 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting from the field, including 2-for-2 from three-point range, to go with three assists.

Junior Lauren Beckley (Fairfield, Pa./Fairfield) nearly matched Leedham's scoring effort, but got little support from her Shippensburg teammates, as she posted a double-double performance of 26 points (18 second half) and ten rebounds to go with a blocked shot. She made 10-of-21 shots from the field, including 4-for-5 from beyond the arc, while converting 2-of-3 free-throw attempts in 33 minutes of play. Senior Elise Mercer (Bishopville, Md./Stephen Decatur) chipped in eight points and three assists for the Raiders.

Franklin Pierce shot 49.2-percent (29-of-59) from the field, including 50% (15-30) in the second half, while making 8-of-19 (42.1%) three-point attempts (6-11, 54.5% in the second half). The Ravens held Shippensburg to 37.5-percent (24-of-64) shooting from the field, including 29% (9-of-31) in the first half to build a 38-21 lead at the break and never looked back. Franklin Pierce turned the ball over just 12 times, posting a 21-10 advantage in points off turnovers.

Franklin Pierce led by four (10-6) after a layup from Shippensburg sophomore Kasey Gardner (Sharpsville, Pa./Sharpsville) seven minutes into the first half. The Ravens used a 12-2 run over the next four minutes to open a 14-point advantage after a Leedham fastbreak layup with 9:05 left. Leedham scored eight of the Ravens 12 points during that stretch in all. 

A Mercer layup had Shippensburg back within seven (27-20) with 3:47 to go in the half, but Franklin Pierce closed the half with an 11-1 spurt to carry a 17-point lead into the lockerroom (38-21), capped by a pair of Leedham free-throws with 18-seconds left. She also buried two free-throws during that stretch.

Leading by 13 after a Mercer layup 30 seconds into the second half, Franklin Pierce gained its first 20-point lead (49-29) after a Martin three with 16:43 left. A Beckley jumper had Shippensburg down by 16 (49-33) with 15:58 remaining, when Franklin Pierce broke the game open for good with a 13-2 run over the next four minutes to take a 27-point lead (62-35) after a layup from senior Melissa Kapela (Queens, N.Y./Christ the King). The Ravens lead would never get within 20 points the rest of the way, growing to as much as 30 at one point.   

Franklin Pierce (6-3, 4-3 NE-10) is back in action on Tuesday night when it faces Grand Canyon University at 10 p.m. (EST). The Ravens return home on Sunday, January 4, to host Wilmington (Del.) University at 1 p.m. Shippensburg (6-2, 0-0 PSAC) faces Gannon University tonight at 8 p.m. (EST).