When and Where: February 5, 2025 – Rindge, N.H. (FPU Fieldhouse)
Score: Franklin Pierce University 81, Southern New Hampshire University 59
Records: SNHU 9-11 (5-9 NE10), FPU 8-13 (5-10 NE10)
Sophomore
Madison Hughes (Columbia, Conn.) notched a career-high 15 points, but the Southern New Hampshire University women's basketball team lost to in-state rival Franklin Pierce University, 81-59, Wednesday evening at the FPU Fieldhouse.
STANDOUT PERFORMERS
- Hughes – career-high 15 points (4-6 FG, 3-4 3-FG, 4-4 FT), 3 rebounds, 2 blocks
- Junior Meghan Gordon (Attleboro, Mass.) – 10 points (2-10 FG, 6-6 FT), 4 rebounds, career-high 4 steals
- Graduate student Stephanie Davis (Windham, N.H.) – 9 points (4-8 FG, 1-2 FT), 4 rebounds, 2 steals
- Freshman Samantha Pfeil (Methuen, Mass.) – 8 points (3-6 FG, 2-4 3-FG)
KEY MOMENTS
- Three-pointers from Hughes bookended an 8-2 run to open the game for Southern New Hampshire over the initial 3:21. The lead was still six more than two minutes later when Franklin Pierce closed the first quarter on a 12-2 rush over the final four minutes to take a 20-16 advantage.
- FPU netted the first 16 points of the second quarter over the opening five-and-a-half minutes to seize a 36-16 lead. The Ravens would bring a 44-22 advantage to the locker room.
- Franklin Pierce scored 13 of the first 19 points in the third quarter to grab its largest lead of the evening at 57-28 with 6:13 left, but SNHU would respond with a frame-finishing 15-5 burst – led by six from Davis – to trim its deficit to 62-43 going to the fourth.
- A 7-1 flurry – sparked by a triple from sophomore Ava Winterburn (New Boston, N.H.) – pulled the Penmen within 70-57 with just under five minutes remaining, but they would get no closer, as the Ravens ended the game on an 11-2 run over the final 4:35.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Winterburn posted six points (2-7 FG, 2-6 3-FG) and six rebounds.
- Sophomore Abby Wager (Mansfield, Mass.) tallied five points (2-7 FG, 1-2 FT), two rebounds and three assists.
- Freshman Taylor Brennan (Southbury, Conn.) netted two points (1-4 FG), grabbed three rebounds and dished a career-best six assists.
- The game was basically decided over nearly an 11-minute stretch that spanned the first and second quarters. Franklin Pierce held SNHU without a field goal for 10:50 of game time during a 27-2 run that flipped a 16-14 deficit into a 41-18 lead.
- Franklin Pierce outshot Southern New Hampshire, 40.7 percent (33-81) to 34.5 percent (19-55), while SNHU returned the favor from deep, 33.3 percent (7-21) to 28.6 percent (8-28). The Penmen (14-18) doubled up the Ravens (7-9) from the line, though both teams shot 77.8 percent.
- The Ravens dominated the glass (53-28), captured the paint (36-22), scored more second chance points (16-4) and submitted a more impressive assist-to-turnover ratio (27/16-12/19), while the Penmen scored more on the fast break (9-2) and received more scoring from their bench (25-12). Points off turnovers (8-8) were even.
NOTES
- Southern New Hampshire has dropped six of its last seven.
- Franklin Pierce leads the all-time series, 61-39, despite SNHU having won 17 of the last 20 meetings, though FPU has now captured two of three. The Penmen see their six-game road winning streak against the Ravens come to an end. It is Franklin Pierce's first home victory against SNHU since Feb. 15, 2017 (76-69).
- SNHU drops to 69-37 (.651) since the 2021-22 season started.
WHAT'S NEXT
- The Penmen are back in action Saturday, Feb. 8 (1:30 p.m.) when they play host to Southern Connecticut State University at the Stan Spirou Field House on Pink Day. The fair begins in the lobby at 12:30 p.m.
