Rindge, N.H. (January 3) -- Led by 21 points and nine rebounds by senior captain Caitlin Ackerman (Nashua, N.H./Nashua South), the No. 22 ranked Assumption College women's basketball team pulled away for a 76-56 road win over Franklin Pierce on Saturday afternoon in Northeast-10 Conference play.

The Hounds are ranked No. 22 in the latest D2SIDA National Poll and are again receiving votes in the USA Today Division II National Poll for the fourth time this season. The Hounds have been ranked in both polls throughout the season.

Assumption jumped out to a nine-point edge over the first 10 minutes of the game, capped by a three-pointer from sophomore Kelly Carey (Long Beach, N.Y./Holy Trinity) for the 20-11 advantage with 10:25 left in the half. The Ravens answered with an 11-0 run over the next 6:41 though, taking a 22-20 lead with 5:44 left after a layup by Alison Palma.

The Hounds went back in front with a quick 7-0 spurt of their own as two free throws by sophomore Jaclyn Storey (Cumberland, Maine/Greely) put Assumption up 27-22. Assumption stretched the lead out to as many as 12 points with 1:28 remaining as sophomore Allison Stoddard (East Lyme, Conn./East Lyme) stole the ball and scored for the 38-26 lead. After the Ravens closed to within eight with 27 seconds left, a left side jumper from Stoddard in the final moments sent the Hounds into the half with the 40-30 lead at the break.

Junior captain Kelly Conley (Ellington, Conn./Ellington) led the Hounds with 11 points in the half, along with eight points and four rebounds by Ackerman as the Hounds shot 51.7 percent from the field.

In the second half, Assumption led 45-33 before a quick 10-0 run that was capped by a three from Carey gave the Hounds their biggest lead at 55-33 with 11:54 left. The Hounds continued to lead 65-47 with seven minutes left following a three-point play by Storey, but the Ravens put together a 7-0 run to close to 65-54 after two free throws from Kara Charette.

Assumption closed the game with an 11-2 run over the final 5:13, capped by another three from Carey and six points from Ackerman to clinch the 76-56 victory.

Ackerman led four Assumption players in double figures with 21 points and a team-best nine boards, while Conley picked up 16 and Carey tallied 12. Storey was also in double figures with 11 points, along with eight points, six rebounds and a team-best eight assists from Stoddard.

Natalie Bastian and Jessica Hurd were the lone Ravens in double figures with 10 points each.

With the win, the Hounds have now won three straight to improve to 10-2 overall and 5-2 in Northeast-10 play. In the loss, the Ravens snap their four-game winning streak and drop to 7-3 overall and 5-2 in the league.

Assumption is back in action on January 7th as the Hounds host Saint Rose for a Northeast-10 Conference game beginning at 5:30 p.m. at Laska Gym.

For the latest on Assumption College Athletics, follow the Hounds via social media on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. For more information, contact the Office of Athletic Communications at 508-767-7240.