White notches fourth double-double in as many games

BOXSCORE

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (November 21, 2010) -- The 14th-ranked Franklin Pierce University women's basketball team made it four road wins in a row to open up the 2010-11 season on Sunday as the Ravens downed Bridgeport, 73-67, at Hubbell Gym in Bridgeport, Conn. Franklin Pierce improved to 4-0 overall, while Bridgeport dipped to 1-3.

With four-consecutive wins away from Rindge, the Ravens will return home to the friendly-confines of The Fieldhouse on Tuesday night when they play host to Saint Michael's in a Northeast-10 Conference showdown at 5:30 p.m.

Franklin Pierce junior forward Jewel White (Worcester, Mass.) sparked the Ravens yet again on Sunday as she notched her fourth-consecutive double-double with 20 points and 14 rebounds. Three other Ravens registered double-digit scoring games, including sophomore guard Tiffany Johnson (St. Albans, Vt.), who scored a career-high 16 points and pulled down eight boards. Freshman guard Brittany Martelle (Brookfield, Conn.) scored in double-figures for the second-straight contest as she came off the bench to toss in 12 points. Sophomore backcourt-mate Jordan Grant (Concord, N.H.) tallied her second double-digit game of the season as she chipped in 11 points. Junior forward Marielle Giroud (Martigny, Switzerland) added six points and six rebounds.

The Ravens forced the Purple Knights into 24 turnovers, while swiping 11 steals, including five from Giroud and four from Johnson. Franklin Pierce owned a 40-34 advantage on the boards, while also shooting 48 percent from the field (26-of-54).

Kelly Keil had a double-double for Bridgeport with 26 points and 11 rebounds, while Edna Marant added 15 points. Elsebeth Birman handed out a game-high 12 assists in the setback.

The second half saw six lead changes as both sides were able to knock down crucial shots throughout the stanza. Bridgeport used a 10-4 run, capped by a triple from Marant, during the middle stages of the half to build a slim 50-48 lead.

Martelle answered for Franklin Pierce as she knocked down back-to-back jumpers to put the Ravens on top, 52-50, with 9:19 left. Bridgeport tied it on the next possession, but the Ravens scored the next six points, including baskets from Martelle, White and Grant, to take a 58-52 advantage.

The Purple Knights responded by scoring the next five points to pull within one and kept their deficit within 2-to-3 points the rest of the way, but could not find a way to knock down the potential go-ahead jumper.

Keil drained a jumper with 1:31 remaining to pull UB within 68-67, but Franklin Pierce got free throws from White, Johnson and junior guard Lekia Cowen (Hopedale, Mass.) in the closing seconds to seal the win.

The win over Bridgeport was Franklin Pierce's third this season versus an opponent that qualified for the NCAA Division II Tournament last season. The other two post-season teams the Ravens have played this year include Molloy in the season-opener and Stonehill back on Wednesday.

Franklin Pierce did hold a 29-18 lead midway through the first half, but Bridgeport was able to claw away at the deficit and pull within 35-32 heading into the locker room at halftime.

For more information on Franklin Pierce women's basketball, please visit the team's page at athletics.franklinpierce.edu(.) To follow the program even further, please visit Franklin Pierce Athletics on YouTube (www.youtube.com/FranklinPierceSports), Twitter (www.twitter.com/FPUathletics) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/FranklinPierceAthletics).