Senior standout also breaks NE-10 record for career free throws made; picture at top of story is of Leedham shooting the free throw that broke the NE-10 career scoring record

BOXSCORE

RINDGE, N.H. (November 21, 2009) – The Franklin Pierce University Fieldhouse had quite the afternoon on Saturday as it saw the second-ranked Franklin Pierce University women’s basketball team top Molloy, 77-67, and watched as senior standout Johannah Leedham (Ellesmere Port, England) broke the Northeast-10 Conference record for career points in women’s basketball history. It didn’t end there as Leedham also set a new record in NE-10 women’s basketball history as she became the career leader in free throws made.

Leedham tossed in a season-high 34 points versus Molloy to bring her career total to 2,202 points, which is now the new standard in NE-10 women’s basketball history. Leedham broke Juana Garcia’s record of 2,189 points, which she scored during her remarkable career from 1992-96 at American International College. Leedham, who needed 22 points entering the game to move into sole possession in the category, officially broke the record with a three-point play on a layup and foul shot two minutes into the second half. She was recognized with an announcement at the game’s next timeout, but that wouldn’t be the last time she was recognized by the PA announcer on the afternoon.

Leedham, who shot 11-of-11 from the free throw line on the afternoon, converted a pair of foul shots with :50 left in the game to set the new standard for career free throws made in the NE-10. She has 550 for her career, which broke the previous record of 547 set by Stonehill’s Mary McNaughton from 1985-89.

Leedham also collected seven rebounds, dished out six assists, swiped four steals and ran the length of the court to block a shot from behind on a break-away layup.

Leedham was again recognized for her achievements on Saturday night as she dropped the ceremonial first puck before the men's ice hockey team took to the ice and defeated Stonehill 6-2.

Junior center Tori Ahrens (East Greenwich, R.I.) added 12 points and two blocks for the Ravens, who shot 53 percent (28-of-53) from the field, including 84 percent (16-of-19) at the free throw line.

Clarissa Jones led three Lions in double-figures as she tossed in 14 points. Lisa Claxton and Kymira Woodberry followed with 13 and 10 points, respectively.

Franklin Pierce was slow in the early stages of the game and the Lions pounced on the opportunity, racing out to a 23-15 10 minutes into the contest. The Ravens responded and got a three-point play from Jewel White (Worcester, Mass.) and four points from Leedham during a 7-0 run to pull within one at 23-22.

Franklin Pierce knotted the game at 28 with 4:41 to go in the half on a layup by Ahrens. Kirsten Doldoorian (Brimfield, Mass.) converted a driving layup a minute later to put the Ravens on top 30-28.

The Ravens would not give up the lead the rest of the way and slowly added to their advantage during the later stages of the first half and into the second half. Leedham dropped in a layup at the buzzer to send Franklin Pierce into the locker room at halftime with a 37-33 edge.

Leedham had 17 of her 34 points in the first 20 minutes. Ahrens and White each added six points apiece.

Molloy tried to keep it close in the second half and stayed within a reasonable distance of tying the game. However, anytime the Lions would try to make a run Franklin Pierce would have an answer.

The Ravens led by as much as 11 points in the second half, including a 69-58 lead with 5:58 to go after Tiffany Johnson (Swanton, Vt.) laid in a basket.

The Franklin Pierce lead hovered between 7-to-10 points the rest of the way as the Ravens pulled out the win to run their record to 2-0 on the season. Molloy, who was receiving honorable-mention votes in the latest USA Today/ESPN WBCA Division II Top-25 Poll, fell to 1-1.

The Ravens return to action on Tuesday night when they begin conference play with a road trip to Saint Michael’s. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m. and can be followed online via live stats through the Northeast-10 and Franklin Pierce websites.

For more information on Franklin Pierce women’s basketball, please visit the team’s page at athletics.franklinpierce.edu(.)