COLCHESTER, Vt. (January 31, 2022) -- The Franklin Pierce University women's basketball team sputtered early, but turned things on after halftime on the road on Monday night, as 21 third-quarter points keyed a big second half, and the Ravens turned a 37-27 halftime deficit into a 63-58 win over Saint Michael's at Ross Sports Center. Senior Lisa Sulejmani (Burlington, Vt.) led the way with a 22-point, 13-rebound double-double, while three other Ravens scored in double digits as well in the Northeast-10 Conference affair.

With the win, Franklin Pierce improves to 9-6 (5-4 NE10), while Saint Michael's falls to 3-13 (1-9 NE10). The Purple Knights are scheduled to make their return trip to Franklin Pierce on Saturday, Feb. 12.

Franklin Pierce collected only eight points in the first quarter, on the way to the 10-point halftime deficit (37-27), before turning things on in the third quarter. The Ravens opened the second half on a 15-4 run and took the lead (42-41) on a layup by sophomore Gisela Vazquez Segura (Igualada, Spain) with 4:35 to play in the third frame. Saint Michael's reclaimed the lead at 43-42, but Franklin Pierce scored the next six points of the game and held a 48-43 lead heading into the fourth.

Saint Michael's put together a late rally, which at one point included five straight points as the Purple Knights took a 58-57 lead with just 1:53 to play on a pair of free throws by sophomore Paige Slaven. Segura closed things out from there though, as she converted buckets on each of Franklin Pierce's next three possessions, while Saint Michael's came up empty on each of its final three possessions, and the Ravens pulled out the five-point victory.

Sulejmani did the heavy lifting statistically for Franklin Pierce, with a 22-point, 13-rebound double-double, which led all players in both categories, while also contributing six assists. Segura's six late points to secure the win capped a 12-point, nine-rebound evening which left her just one rebound shy of a double-double of her own. Senior Emma Carter (Bristol, Vt.) added 14 points, while sophomore Ines Gimenez Monserrat (Mallorca, Spain) made it four Ravens in double-digits, with 11 points.

Meanwhile, it was a pair in double digits for Saint Michael's, as seniors Nicole Anderson and Emma MacDonough finished with 10 points apiece. MacDonough also led the Purple Knights in rebounds (6) and assists (3) on the night.

Franklin Pierce hits the road to open the month of February, with an NE10 contest at Southern New Hampshire on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.