Top-seeded Ravens use big first half to key opening win over ninth-seeded Penmen

Boxscore 

RINDGE, N.H. (March 3, 2009) - Top-seeded and regular season champion Franklin Pierce University, ranked 19^th in this week's USA Today/ESPN/WBCA Division II poll and first in the NCAA Division II East Regional rankings, raced out to a 21-point lead by halftime and never looked back in rolling to an 81-59 victory over ninth-seeded Southern New Hampshire University, ranked ninth in the region, in quarterfinal round action of the 2009 Northeast-10 Conference women's basketball championships at the Fieldhouse tonight.

Franklin Pierce (22-5, 18-4 NE-10), winners of six-straight and 16 of 17, advance to Friday's semifinal round where it will host fourth-seeded American International College (20-11, 14-8 NE-10) at the Fieldhouse at 7 p.m. The game will be broadcast live on WEEI 93.5 FM Keene.

AIC, ranked fourth in the East Region, advanced with a 60-41 decision over fifth-seeded Pace University in quarterfinal round play in Springfield, Mass., tonight. Third-seeded Bentley University (20-10, 15-7 NE-10) and seventh-seeded College of Saint Rose (19-9, 13-9 NE-10) will play the other NE-10 semifinal in Waltham, Mass., on Friday night. The NE-10 Championship and the Conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Division II Tournament will be awarded on Sunday at 1 p.m.

Southern New Hampshire (18-11, 12-10 NE-10) likely sees its hopes for an NCAA Tournament bid dashed with tonight's loss, coupled with Saint Rose's victory at second-seeded Stonehill College. Bids will be announced on Sunday night. 

Junior All-American and Great Britain international Johannah Leedham (Ellesmere Port, England/Cheshire Academy (Conn.)) led a balanced Franklin Pierce effort with a game-high 24 points (16 first half) on 8-for-15 shooting from the field, including 6-of-12 from three-point range, converting both free-throw attempts. The two-time NE-10 Player of the Year, also added five assists, four steals, three rebounds and a blocked shot in 29 minutes of action.

Senior Toby Martin (Wayne, Maine/Maranacook) added 13 points, shooting 5-for-6 from the field, including 2-3 from beyond the arc, to go with three assists, while sophomore Tori Ahrens (East Greenwich, R.I./East Greenwich) made 6-of-7 shots from the field for 12 points, adding three steals and two blocks. Sophomore Cynthia Gaudet (Coventry, R.I./LaSalle Academy) rounded out the double-figure scorers with 11 points.

Senior Stephanie Houghton (Manchester, N.H./Manchester West) led Southern New Hampshire with 12 points and three steals. Junior Julia Houghtaling (Franconia, N.H./New Hampton) added ten points and a game-high nine rebounds, while classmate Ashara Carrington (Marblehead, Mass./Marblehead) chipped in nine points and five rebounds (three offensive).

Franklin Pierce finished shooting 51.8-percent (29-for-56) from the field after hitting 54.5% (18-33) in the first half to race to a 21-point (49-28) halftime lead. SNHU shot 34.7% (17-49) from the field for the contest, including 3-for-18 (16.7%) from three-point range, but just 29.2% (7-24) from the floor in the second half. The Ravens enjoyed a 28-14 advantage in points off turnovers, including 16-2 in the first half alone, taking advantage of 31 Penmen miscues, compared to 21 for the hosts (six first half).

The game was tight over the first nine minutes, with Franklin Pierce holding a two-point lead (13-11) after Southern New Hampshire grad student Brooke Lefort (Cumberland, R.I./Cumberland) hit a jumper with 11:41 left in the first half. Martin answered with a three-pointer that sparked a 12-2 lead over the next three and a half minutes to put the Ravens up 12 (25-13) after an Ahrens jumper with 8:23 left. Leedham posted seven points, including a three-pointer, during that stretch as well.

Junior Jenny McDade (Derry, N.H./Pinkerton) canned a three to pull SNHU back within nine (27-18) with 7:08 to go before the half, but Franklin Pierce reeled off an 18-3 run to open a 24-point advantage (45-21) after a Martin free-throw with 1:19 remaining. Leedham sparked the run with a pair of three's and Ahrens totaled four points.

Franklin Pierce's lead was 19 (53-34) after a Houghton three for SNHU 4:02 into the second half. The Ravens ended any chances of a comeback with a 12-2 run to open a game-high 29 point margin (65-36) after a Martin lay-up with 11:48 left and the Ravens lead never dipped below 20 the rest of the way.