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Kelsey Simonds had 15 points and 12 rebounds for her fifth double-double of the season. |
Rindge, N.H. - Despite seven three-pointers and 25 points from sophomore Megan Methven (Corning, N.Y.), No.15 Franklin Pierce used two scoring sprees to turn a close game into a 77-64 win over No. 12 Stonehill on Saturday afternoon.
The Ravens forced a season-high 31 Skyhawk turnovers that they converted into 36 points, helping avenge an earlier loss to Stonehill this season.
Franklin Pierce used a 16-2 run down the stretch of the second half to blow the game open, forcing five Stonehill turnovers during the spurt. The Skyhawks didn't help their cause, going 1-for-9, including missing three layups during that span.
After shooting nearly 50 percent from the field in the first half, Stonehill went cold in the final 20 minutes, making just 27 percent of their attempts (7-for-26).
The Ravens took an early 10-point lead, but the Skyhawks stormed back, taking a 10-point lead of their own at 35-25, as Methven made six of her three-pointers in the first half.
Franklin Pierce responded, however, finishing the half on a 13-1 run to take a 38-36 halftime advantage.
Stonehill held a 40-35 edge on the boards, but the Ravens outscored the Skyhawks 30-16 on points in the paint.
The seven three-pointers by Methven were one shy of the school-record she set a season ago as a freshman against Bryant. She went 8-for-14 from the field and 7-for-12 from behind the arc and added six rebounds.
For Franklin Pierce, Johannah Leedham paced four Ravens in double figures with a game-high 28 points on 11-for-24 shooting, to go with six rebounds, five assists and four steals. Jennifer Leedham (15), Vanessa Power (14) and Josie Lidkie (10) also reached double figures.
The Skyhawks' Kelsey Simonds (Middleboro, Mass.) finished with 15 points and 12 rebounds, while Bethany Tighe (North Easton, Mass.) had 12 points and six rebounds.
At 9-3, Stonehill (13-4) and Franklin Pierce (14-3) are both in a three-way tie with Bentley for second place in the Northeast-10, one game behind Assumption (16-3, 10-2 NE-10).
Stonehill will look to snap its second two-game losing streak of the season its next time out. However, the schedule for the Skyhawks doesn't get any easier, as defending national champion, Southern Connecticut invades Merkert Gymnasium on Tuesday.