Top-seeded Ravens shoot past third-seeded Stonehill, 78-54, in NCAA Division II East Regional Championship to advance to Elite Eight in San Antonio

Boxscore 

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. (March 16, 2009) -  Top-seeded Franklin Pierce University, ranked 14^th in this week's USA Today/ESPN/WBCA Division II poll, captured its second-straight regional championship with a 78-54 victory over third-seeded Stonehill College in third round action of the 2009 NCAA Division II Women's Basketball Championships Tournament East Regional, hosted by Holy Family University, at Campus Center Gymnasium tonight.

Franklin Pierce (27-5) advances to the NCAA Division II Women's Elite Eight in San Antonio, Texas, hosted by Saint Mary's University, that runs March 24, 25 and 27. The East Region champion Ravens will face Atlantic Region champs California University of Pennsylvania (29-4), who posted a 64-40 victory over Gannon University tonight in Western Pennsylvania, in a national quarterfinal on Tuesday, March 24, at 7 p.m. (EDT). Stonehill, runners up to Franklin Pierce during the Northeast-10 regular season as well, wraps up its season at 22-8 overall, including a 15-7 mark in the NE-10.

"I think we definitely look to go further (at the Elite 8) because we have that experience," said junior All-American and Great Britain international Johannah Leedham (Ellesmere Port, England/Cheshire Academy (Conn.)). "The key for us is we are so relaxed. When we are tight we don't play well, but when we are relaxed and having fun we look great and play like a great basketball team."

Leedham, the reigning State Farm/WBCA Division II Player of the Year, put a cap on Most Outstanding Player honors at the regional for the second-straight season as she led all scorers with 24 points (17 first half), five rebounds, four assists (no turnovers) and six steals for Franklin Pierce. She made 6-of-10 shots from the field, including 3-for-6 from three-point range, while converting 9-of-10 free-throw attempts on the night.

Senior Toby Martin (Wayne, Maine/Maranacook) wrapped up a tremendous weekend by earning All-Tournament team honors as she netted a season-high 18 points (12 second half) on 4-of-7 shooting from three-point range, while converting all six free-throws to go with six rebounds. Senior Jennifer Leedham (Ellesmere Port, England/Cheshire Academy (Conn.)) also earned All-Tournament team honors as she contributed 11 points, hitting 3-of-5 three-pointers, and five assists.

"I knew I had to come in (this weekend) like it was my last game," said Martin. "I didn't want to lose and go home, nobody did. But it all comes back to teamwork and we just came out and found our spots and took advantage when the attention was on Jo and Jen."

Freshman Marielle Giroud (Martigny, Switzerland) rounded out the Ravens double-figure scorers with 12 points, six rebounds (three offensive), three assists and three blocked shots. Sophomore Tori Ahrens (East Greenwich, R.I./East Greenwich) chipped in seven points, six rebounds and four steals. 

Senior Bethany Tighe (North Easton, Mass./Oliver Ames) led Stonehill, which was making its fifth regional final appearance, with 16 points (12 first half), on 7-for-11 shooting from the field, and six rebounds (four offensive). Sophomore Kristen McWhirter (Melvin Village, N.H./New Hampton Prep) added 11 points, six rebounds (four offensive), two assists and two steals, while classmate Amanda Smith (Penacook, N.H./Merrimack Valley) chipped in six points, five rebounds and two steals.

Franklin Pierce was a blistering 12-for-22 (54.5-percent) from three-point range on the night, including 7-for-12 (58.3%) in the second half to break open a five-point (34-29) halftime advantage. The Ravens finished shooting 47.1-percent (24-for-51) from the field overall, including 50% (12-24) in the second half, and converted 90% (18-of-20) of their free-throw attempts. Franklin Pierce also won the rebounding battle, 32-29, and finished with a 23-18 advantage in points off turnovers (19-6 in the second half).

"(Franklin Pierce) is a phenomenal team and we knew we had to try to mix some things up defensively," said Stonehill head coach Trisha Brown. "They have so many weapons and their ability to score and score in a hurry is really impressive. I felt like in the first half we did a good job of staying within reach, but they are explosive and they had an answer to every one of our defensive schemes in the second half."

Franklin Pierce never trailed, opening a 9-0 lead two and a half minutes in with Johannah Leedham scoring the first seven points of the contest, draining a pair of three's. Stonehill closed within three (13-10) after a Tighe jumper with 12:39 left. She had eight of the Skyhawks first ten points in the game. The Ravens answered by posting an 18-10 run over the next seven minutes to open a double-digit lead (31-20) after a Martin three with 5:04 left in the frame.

"We knew that we had to go on the attack right away and that their lack of depth could be a factor with it being the third game in four days," said Franklin Pierce head coach Mark Swasey, the Russell Athletic/WBCA East Region Coach of the Year. "We got out to an early lead, but kind of hit a little bit of lull and struggled to find a flow, which allowed (Stonehill) to get back into it."

Stonehill closed the deficit to five at halftime (34-29), but Franklin Pierce came out of the break with a 10-2 spurt to regain a double-digit lead (44-31) after a Jennifer Leedham three 2:37 into the second half. The Skyhawks got back within single digits (44-35) on a jumper by junior Stephanie Pintal (Nashua, N.H./Nashua South) with 15:48 to play, but the Ravens scored the next ten points in the next two minutes to gain a 19-point lead (54-35) after a Martin three with 14:03 to go. Senior Vanessa Power (Mildura, Australia) drained a three and Giroud converted a conventional three-point play to spark the run. 

"We came out of in the second half and just blew it open with tough defense, which has been what has gotten us this far and what will allow us to continue," said Swasey.

Stonehill tried to climb back in the game, drawing within 13 (61-48) after a jumper by sophomore Emily Rousseau (Biddeford, Maine/Biddeford) with 9:44 left. However, Franklin Pierce closed the door with a 17-2 run over the next seven minutes to open a 28-point lead (78-50) after a three by Jennifer Leedham with 2:21 remaining.

"This team is just so resilient and they have become a true team," said Swasey. "That's what I am most proud about with this group and tonight they were not going to be denied."

It marks the tenth-straight year a Northeast-10 representative will appear in the Elite Eight, but Franklin Pierce is the first to repeat since Merrimack College won back-to-back titles in 2004 and ‘05. Franklin Pierce also matches its program record for wins in a season (27) set with last year's Elite Eight run.