MANCHESTER, N.H. (January 8, 2020) – The Franklin Pierce University women's basketball team trailed by 18 with under six minutes to go in the fourth quarter and rallied to come within four points with 43 seconds to go, but they could not come any closer as they lost by a 73-68 margin to Northeast-10 Conference opponent Southern New Hampshire University Wednesday evening at the Stan Spirou Field House. With the win, the Penmen improve to 9-5, 2-4 NE10 while the Ravens slip to 6-7 and suffered their sixth setback in league play.

The Ravens offense was led by the duo of Sophia Holmes (Oakland, Maine) and Izzy Lipinski (Farmington, Conn.)  Holmes produced a team-high 15 points on 7-of-8 (87.5%) shooting while Lipinski was just one rebound shy of a double-double as she scored 14 points and gobbled up a game-high nine boards. Rylee Skinner (Leominster, Mass.) was the only other Raven in double-figures as she scored 11 markers and secured eight rebounds. Lisa Sulejmani (Burlington, Vt.) and Freya Cooney (Woodbridge, England) came off the bench to score nine and eight points respectively.

For SNHU Gyanna Russell was also a carom short of a double-double as she led all players with 17 points and had nine rebounds. Victoria Dean matched her teammate with 17 markers of her own.

As a team, the Ravens shot an even 50% (30-of-60) from the hardwood, but they struggled from deep going only 1-for-11 (9.1%). SNHU, on the other hand, buried 11-of-34 (32.4%) of their threes. FPU pounded the Penmen in the paint scoring 52 points down low compared to their counterparts 28 and they also outrebounded them 37-to-25.

Holmes kicked off the game for the Ravens dropping home a layup from the block. SNHU responded with seven consecutive points to lead by two possessions, 7-2 two and a half minutes in. The Penmen edge hovered around five until a 9-4 Raven mini spurt with six points coming in the post by Cooney combined with a Demi Akins (Cambridge, Mass.) triple from the top of the point deadlocked the match 13-13. The teams swapped points as a Holmes lay-in with 24 ticks left were the final points of the quarter. The game was tied 17-17 at the end of one.

A Lipinski slash from the right side regained the lead towards the Ravens' side for the first time since the opening minutes at 21-19. The Penmen went on a three-point barrage connecting on their next three long-range attempts while the Ravens answered with layups including a Skinner offensive rebound score and a jumper at the right elbow to move back ahead 29-28. A Dean trifecta with under a minute to go reestablished the two-possession lead 36-31; however, the Ravens converted a layup to head into the intermission down three, 36-33.

The home team opened up the second half and third quarter on a 12-4 run to lead by double-figures for the first time 48-37. Skinner banged home a shot from the post while being fouled for the potential and1. She made the free throw to cut into the margin at 48-40 with 5:42 left in the third. A few possessions passed until Sulejmani drove strongly through the trees for a deuce to drop the score to two possessions, 48-42. Following a media stoppage, Sulejmani kept attacking and was awarded a hoop and harm. She successfully completed the old fashioned three-point play to put her squad within five, 50-45. The Penmen tacked on five straight with a Karlee Ziliak three increasing the margin back to double-figures 55-45. A Cooney layup coupled with two Russell freebies resulted in a 57-49 SNHU lead after three quarters.

SNHU went on a 12-2 fourth-quarter opening run using two late threes by Ziliak and Molly Terry to open up their largest lead to that point of the game 69-51 with 5:44 to go in regulation. After a media timeout, the Ravens chipped away at the deficit, cutting it to nine, 69-60 with nine straight points, an Akins layup, two Lipinski buckets, one Holmes free throw and a turnaround jumper by Emma Carter (Bristol, Vt.). Dean knocked down a wide-open three-pointer on the right-wing to re-establish the double-digit lead, 72-60. The three-ball temporarily halted the Raven run as six in a row pulled the guests within two possessions 72-66 with 1:24 left.

Pierce took a timeout and got a stop on the defensive end. On their next offensive possession, Holmes made a cut from the wing into the paint and converted the drive making it 72-68 with 43 seconds left. Lipinski blocked a Dean three and streaked down the court, however, Skinner's pass was too long as FPU turned over the rock. FPU ended the match on a 17-4 run before falling 73-68.

Franklin Pierce will remain on the road Saturday when they head south to Springfield to take on American International College at 1:30 p.m.

For more information on Franklin Pierce Athletics, please visit the official website of Franklin Pierce Athletics (http://www.fpuravens.com). 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 apparel can do so at the Department of Athletics' online store (https://shopfpuravens.com). You can also follow the women's basketball team on Twitter (https://twitter.com/FPURavensWBB) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/franklin_pierce_wbb/).