RINDGE, N.H. (February 21, 2022) – Fresh off an upset win over Bentley on Saturday afternoon, the Franklin Pierce University women's basketball team put together a 42-37 halftime lead over New Haven at home in the Fieldhouse on Monday night, but it would not be enough. Senior Emma Carter (Bristol, Vt.) dropped 21 points, but a second-half explosion by the visiting Chargers was too much for the Ravens to handle in an 87-76, Northeast-10 Conference loss. Junior Aurora Deshaies was a dominant force for New Haven, as she went for a game-high 31 points and hauled in a game-best 19 rebounds for good measure.

With the loss, Franklin Pierce falls to 11-13 (7-11 NE10) this season. New Haven brings its record to 10-15 (5-14 NE10).

The first quarter was relatively close. At the end of the period, Franklin Pierce held a 24-21 lead behind a barrage of threes, as the Ravens went 5-for-8 from distance in the opening frame. Carter and fellow senior Rylee Skinner (Leominster, Mass.) recorded six and five points, respectively, in the period. Deshaies and fellow junior Briana Van Cleaf recorded the majority of the Charger points, with eight apiece.

The second quarter saw the Ravens extend the lead to five points heading into halftime. Carter added another three-pointer, while sophomore Anna Badosa Soler (Girona, Spain) added a make from beyond the arc, as well as three more points at the free-throw line. Deshaies continued to lead the Chargers, as she already had 14 points and seven rebounds at the break.

The second half was not favorable towards the Ravens, as the Chargers took the lead in the third quarter and carried it to the final buzzer. Van Cleaf added 10 points in the third, with help from Deshaies, who chipped in seven and brought in four rebounds to finish her double-double before the final frame even started. Senior Lisa Sulejmani (Burlington, Vt.) recorded 10 points in the quarter with four buckets, including a pair of threes.

Trailing 65-61 entering the fourth quarter, the Ravens defense struggled to defend the Charger attack and box out in the paint, and they continued to have problems with Deshaies in particular. New Haven brought in 13 rebounds as a team in the fourth, with eight going to the junior, who also had 10 points in the stanza, to round out her 31-point, 19-rebound bonanza.

Carter had the team high in points for the Ravens with 21, while Sulejmani followed with 16 and Soler with 12. Sulejmani held the team high in rebounds and assists, with six of each. 

Franklin Pierce will close the regular season with a home date against NE10 opponent Assumption University, while the team celebrates Senior Day, on Tuesday, Feb. 22. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. in the Fieldhouse.