Jo. Leedham nets 28 to lead Ravens to ninth-straight win

Boxscore 

MANCHESTER, N.H. (January 29, 2009) -  Franklin Pierce University, among other teams receiving votes in this week's USA Today/ESPN/WBCA Division II poll, made 55.6-percent of its shots in the second half to erase an eight-point halftime deficit and claim its ninth-straight win with a 66-53 decision over Southern New Hampshire University in Northeast-10 Conference women's basketball action at SNHU Fieldhouse tonight.

Junior All-American and Great Britain international Johannah Leedham (Ellesmere Port, England/Cheshire Academy (Conn.)) led Franklin Pierce with 28 points (15 second half) as she hit 8-of-14 shots from the field, including 3-for-5 from three-point range, and converted 9-of-11 free-throws on the night. She also added six rebounds, five steals, two assists and a blocked shot.

Junior Kirsten Doldoorian (Brimfield, Mass./Oxford) added 11 points as she hit 4-of-6 shots, including 3-4 three's, while senior Vanessa Power (Mildura, Australia) posted nine points, burying all three three-point attempts. Freshman Marielle Giroud (Martigny, Switzerland) grabbed a game-high ten rebounds.

Senior Stephanie Houghton (Manchester, N.H./Manchester West) led Southern New Hampshire with 11 points, three assists and three steals. Classmate Alyssa Whitney (Somerville, Mass./Arlington Catholic) added ten points on 5-of-6 shooting, four rebounds and two steals. Junior Ashara Carrington (Marblehead, Mass./Marblehead) chipped in nine points and four rebounds.

Franklin Pierce rallied from an eight-point (28-20) halftime deficit by nailing 55.6-percent (15-for-27) of its shots from the field in the second half, including 8-of-11 (72.7%) three-pointers, to finish shooting 45.1% (23-51) from the field and 56.3% (9-for-16) from beyond the arc for the contest. SNHU finished shooting 36.1-percent (22-for-61), just 4-for-20 (20%) from three-point range, and converted only 5-of-10 (50%) free-throw attempts. The Ravens also posted a 41-30 rebounding advantage, marking the 12^th time this season they have won the battle on the glass - posting an 11-1 mark in those games.

SNHU scored the final four points of the first half to carry an eight-point lead (28-20) into halftime. Houghton answered a Leedham three to open the second half with one of her own and the Penmen lead was still eight (31-23) 1:26 into the frame. Franklin Pierce then reeled off a 13-2 run over the next five minutes to take its first lead since early in the contest, capped by a Power three with 13:35 to play. Senior Jennifer Leedham (Ellesmere Port, England/Cheshire Academy (Conn.)) added a conventional three-point play during the stretch.

Franklin Pierce used a 12-4 run to open a nine-point cushion (48-39) after a Doldoorian three with 9:05 to play. Power added a pair of three's, while Johannah Leedham drained another during the outburst. SNHU was back within two (48-46) after a layup from grad student Brooke Lefort (Cumberland, R.I./Cumberland) with 7:44 remaining. Doldoorian answered with a three and the Ravens pushed its lead back to eight (56-48) after another three-ball from Doldoorian with 6:19 to play.

Whitney hit a jumper to pull SNHU within a possession (56-53) with 3:37 left, but that would be the Penmen's final points as Franklin Pierce closed the game out with the last ten points of the night, with Johannah Leedham converting all six free-throws she took in the final 62-seconds, grabbing a steal and two rebounds in the process.

Franklin Pierce (15-4, 12-3 NE-10) is off until next Wednesday, February 4, when it returns home to host No. 15 Stonehill College for a showdown between the NE-10 co-leaders at 5:30 p.m. Southern New Hampshire (11-8, 6-8 NE-10) visits the University of Massachusetts Lowell on Saturday at 2 p.m.