Junior Mary Louise Dixon scored 13 of her game-high 16 points in the second half for the Skyhawks. (PHOTO BY Richard Orr) |
Second chance points and points on turnovers fuel Skyhawks win
RINDGE, N.H. (February 6, 2013) – Franklin Pierce University posted a 72-50 victory over Stonehill College, ranked 14th in this week's USA TODAY Sports/ Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Division II poll, in Northeast-10 Conference women's basketball action at the Franklin Pierce Fieldhouse tonight.
Senior Brooke Long (Richmond, Va./Godwin) led Franklin Pierce with 15 points off the bench on 4-of-5 shooting, including 3-for-3 from three-point range, and converting all four free-throw attempts to go with two rebounds in 15 minutes. She led a Ravens bench that outscored the Stonehill reserves 31-10. Freshman Kara Charette (Fairhaven, Mass./Fairhaven) was the only other Raven in double-figures with 14 points (10 first half), aided by a 6-for-6 effort from the line, and four rebounds.
Junior Kate McDonald (Fall River, Mass./BMC Durfee) contributed nine points, a game-high eight rebounds, five assists and three steals for Franklin Pierce, while junior Brittany Martelle (Brookfield, Conn./Brookfield) chipped in eight points, three boards and two assists off the bench.
Franklin Pierce shot just 37.7-percent (23-for-61) from the field, including 8-for-18 (44.4%) from three-point range, but connected at 42.3% (11-for-26) in the second half and converted 18-of-20 (90%) free-throws for the night. The Ravens enjoyed an 18-3 advantage for second chance points, outrebounding Stonehill 41-32, and registered a 19-10 edge in points off turnovers with the Skyhawks turning the ball over 19 times to 11 for the hosts.
Sophomore Jamie Panton made all three shots from the field, including two three's, and both free-throws for ten points. (PHOTO BY Richard Orr) |
Junior Mary Louise Dixon (Wellesley, Mass./Wellesley) led Stonehill with a game-high 16 points (13 second half), aided by 3-for-5 shooting from beyond the arc while converting 3-of-3 free-throws, to go with five assists, four rebounds and two steals. Sophomore Jamie Panton (Essex Junction, Vt./Essex) added ten points on a perfect shooting night by going 3-for-3 from the field, including two three-pointers, and 2-for-2 from the free-throw line, with two assists and a blocked shot. Junior Asia Ewing (Westford, Mass./Westford Academy) chipped in nine points, a team-high matching seven boards, a blocked shot and a steal.
Stonehill was limited to 34-percent shooting (16-for-47), including 8-for-20 (40%) from three-point range, hitting 10-of-15 (66.7%) free-throws.
Stonehill held the early momentum, scoring the first five points of the game, all from Panton, and holding a six point lead (16-10) with 9:34 to play in the first half after a layup and three-pointer from junior Abbey Lalime (Orleans, Vt./Lake Region Union). Franklin Pierce responded with 16-straight points to reverse the lead and open a ten point advantage (26-16) following a three-pointer from Long with 5:11 to play in the half.
The run was the opening of a larger 23-3 stretch that extended the Franklin Pierce lead to 14 (33-19) after two free-throws from McDonald with 1:57 remaining. After a Panton three-pointer, the Ravens capped the half with two free-throws and a layup by Charette to take a 15 point (37-22) halftime lead.
Franklin Pierce quickly pushed its lead to 19 (41-22) a minute and a half into the second following a jumper from junior Brooke Coderre (Woonsocket, R.I./Woonsocket) and layup by senior Tiffany Johnson (St. Albans, Vt./Bellows Free Academy). Stonehill scored six straight points, including four from Dixon, to cut the gap to 13 (41-28) with 16:28 still to play. The Skyhawks drew within 11 (45-34) on a jumper from Lalime with 11:14 remaining, but that would prove to be the closest they would get.
Ewing connected on a three-pointer to bring Stonehill within 12 (51-39) with 6:59 left and the Skyhawks would still be within 12 (59-47) after a Dixon three with 3:50 remaining. Franklin Pierce clinched the win from there by converting its last nine free-throws, getting a conventional three-point play from Johnson while the Skyhawks made just 1-of-6 field goals after the Dixon three.
Stonehill (17-3, 13-3 NE-10) returns home on Saturday to host Merrimack College for "Play for Kay" Day for breast cancer awareness in Merkert Gym at 1:30 p.m. Fans can make donations to the Kay Yow Cancer Fund through the Stonehill Women's Basketball page via www.play4kay.org. Franklin Pierce (14-6, 11-5 NE-10) visits Saint Michael's College on Saturday at 1:30 p.m.
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