Ravens Start the Season off at the Double Tree Tip Off Classic at Saint Michael's College

Colchester, Vt. (November 14 2014) –Franklin Pierce University Women's Basketball took the lead with less than a minute to play earning a 53-48 win against Holy Family Friday evening at the Double Tree Tip Off Classic at the Ross Sports Center hosted by Saint Michael's College. Ravens Junior Kara Charette (Fairhaven, Mass) led the game with 15 points and graduate student Kate McDonald (Fall River, Mass) posted 9 assists in her comeback game.

With the victory, the Ravens start the season out 1-0 in non-conference play, while Holy Family holds an 0-1 record.

The Ravens started out strong with back to back layups by Charette and senior Jessica Hurd (Kegworth, England). Holy Family assumed the lead to 7-6 at 14:30 and would hold it until senior Dyamond Gardner's (Cambridge, Mass) fast break layup assisted by McDonald's defensive rebound, tying the game 15-15 with 5:26 to play. This was one of McDonald's nine assists of the night, who was making her first appearance for the Ravens in over a year, after missing last season due to injury.

During the volley for the lead in the remainder of the half, Raven junior Natalie Bastian (Branford, Conn.) sank a three-pointer at 1:33 to give the Ravens their last lead in the first half, until Holy Family junior Kasey Woetzel's jumper at 0:33 rounding out the halftime score to 25-24.

The Tiger's had a strong start to the second half, being led by senior Sara Pawlak's three-pointer within the first minute. The Raven's would assume the lead after two layups- one off a steal- by Charette and a jumper by freshman Jemma Thacker (Aldgate, Australia), bringing Pierce to lead by a point at the 17:44 mark 30-29.

The fight for the lead would resume until Holy Family pulled away at the 13:17 mark with a jumper by senior Reagan Jewell 35-34. Jumpers by Hurd and sophmore Alison Palma (Stamford, Conn.) would bring the score to a 38-38 tie by 10:37.

After a fight for the lead, the Ravens would once again hold strong after a jumper by Hurd at 7:13 assisted by Palma; McDonald and Gardner each contributed to the pull away with three-pointers. A steal and fast break layup by Tiger's sophomore Yasmin Walker would tie the game to 46-46 at 2:26. Charette answered back with a layup not even 30 seconds later, allowing the Ravens to assume the lead for the remainder of the game, with a final score of 53-48.

Tigers Kasey Woetzel tallied a total of 14 points, with 10 of them in the first half and Sarah Pawlack had 10 points and nine rebounds.

Ravens Kara Charette was the game high scorer with 15  points and Dyamond Gardner adding 11 points to the final score.  Jessica Hurd posted 10 rebounds and Kate McDonald led the game with three steals and nine assists.

The Ravens take on Queens (N.Y.) tomorrow, Saturday November 15, at 1:00p, in their final game of the Double Tree Classic at the Ross Sports Arena at Saint Michael's College.

For more information on Franklin Pierce Athletics, please visit the official website of Franklin Pierce Athletics (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu). Also be sure to follow the Ravens through the Department of Athletics' official Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/FranklinPierceRavens), its YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/franklinpiercesports) and its Twitter feed (http://twitter.com/FPUathletics). Fans wishing to purchase Franklin Pierce women's basketball apparel can do so at the Department of Athletics' online store (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu/store).