Jan. 24, 2009

Box Score

LOWELL - Junior G Johanna Leedham (Ellesmere Port, England) compiled 21 points and five steals to lead Franklin Pierce University over UMass Lowell, 62-58, Saturday in a Northeast-10 Conference women's basketball clash at the Costello Athletic Center.

The loss was the third straight for the River Hawks, who slipped to 7-11 overall and 4-9 in the NE-10 entering Wednesday's home clash against Merrimack (7:00). Franklin Pierce enjoyed its eighth straight win and improved to 14-4 overall and 11-3 in the NE-10.

Junior G Megan Berry (Ipswich, MA) led UMass Lowell with 12 points while junior F Jen Valente (Prospect, CT) chipped in nine points (4 of 7 field goals) and four rebounds.

Leedham connected on 7 of 10 field goals and also grabbed four rebounds while senior G Jennifer Leedham (Ellesmere Port, England) added 18 points, five assists and four steals.

UMass Lowell led 54-49 with 6:47 left to play on a layup by sophomore G Krissy Little (Concord, NH), but the Ravens came back with an 11-2 run to snatch a 60-56 lead with 3:34 left to play. Johannah Leedham highlighted the run with a conventional 3-point play.

The River Hawks cut the lead to two (60-58) on a layup by junior G Rahshala Valentine (Cincinnati, OH) with 1:32 left to play, and won back possession after a missed jumper by Jennifer Leedham with 15 seconds left. However, Johannah Leedham stole an inbound pass with four seconds left and raced in for an uncontested layup to seal the win.

In the first half, Franklin Pierce ran out to a 22-12 lead with 8:53 left until the break, fueled by nine points from Leedham. UMass Lowell responded with a 21-4 run to post a 33-26 lead with 3:04 remaining, led by eight points apiece from Berry and Valente.

The River Hawks led at the half, 33-29.

Franklin Pierce shot .619 in the second half (13-21) while the River Hawks shot .455 (10-22). The Ravens also built a 14-4 edge at the free throw line.