Worcester, Mass. (February 7) -- On Saturday afternoon, the Assumption College women's basketball team dropped an 80-59 final to visiting Franklin Pierce University in Northeast-10 Conference action at Laska Gym. The Ravens built out to an early lead and led wire-to-wire to earn the regular-season series split with the Hounds.

The Ravens jumped out to a quick 7-0 lead over the first 2:38 of the game, capped by a three from the corner by junior Natalie Bastian. Two straight baskets from sophomore Jaclyn Storey (Cumberland, Maine/Greely) cut the margin to 7-4 before five quick Raven points forced an Assumption timeout. Back-to-back Franklin Pierce turnovers were turned into points though, cutting the lead to 12-8 with 11:44 left and forcing a 30-second Raven timeout. Senior Caitlin Ackerman (Nashua, N.H./Nashua South) cut the lead down to five at 13-8 before the Ravens eventually made it a seven-point game at 22-15 as Dana Campbell hit a three from the corner as the shot clock was expiring at the 6:57 mark.

Assumption cut the lead all the way down to one at 24-23 behind a quick 8-3 run that was capped by a jumper from sophomore Kelly Carey (Long Beach, N.Y./Holy Trinity). The Ravens eventually took a 33-25 advantage into the halftime break though as the team shot 48 percent from the field in the period and forced 11 Assumption turnovers.

Storey led Assumption with nine points in the half off the bench, while Bastian finished the period with nine as she was a perfect 3-for-3 from deep. The Ravens also controlled the glass with a 24-15 rebounding advantage that included a 20-10 edge on the defensive boards.

A Bastian layup stretched the lead into double figures for the first time as she opened the half with a layup for the 35-25 advantage. The lead swelled to 14 nearing the midway point of the second after a pair of free throws gave the Ravens a 53-39 edge heading into the final 10 minutes. Franklin Pierce kept pushing on the offensive end and eventually stretched the lead out to 20 with 2:14 left on a pair of Bastian free throws. Overall in the second half, the Ravens connected on 25-of-28 free throws and outscored the Hounds 28-14 at the line in the game.

Bastian paced the Ravens in the 26-point victory, finishing 6-for-8 from the field and a perfect 10-for-10 at the line. Jessica Hurd also added 10 points, while Dyamond Gardner led the Ravens with nine rebounds.

Assumption was led by 16 points each from both Ackerman and Storey, along with a team-best eight rebounds from Ackerman. Defensively, the Hounds also forced 19 turnovers that included eight in the second period.

With the loss, Assumption falls to 12-9 overall and 7-9 in Northeast-10 play, while Franklin Pierce improves to 12-7 overall and 10-6 in the league.

Assumption is back in action on Tuesday, February 10th as the Hounds travel to Easton, Mass. for a 5:30 p.m. start vs. nationally-ranked Stonehill at Merkert Gym.

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