Manchester, N.H. (February 16) -- On Monday night at Stoutenburgh Gym, the Saint Anselm women's basketball team fell to No. 25 Franklin Pierce University by an 88-66 final in Northeast-10 Conference action.

The Ravens jumped out to a quick 7-2 lead before a three-pointer by Justine Lyons (Reading, Mass.) got the Hawks back within a basket at 7-5 with 18:15 left in the opening period. Franklin Pierce used a 21-9 run to make it a 14-point game at the 9:37 mark and increased their advantage to 18 with 1:39 on the clock. Behind 8-for-14 shooting from three-point land, the Ravens took a 48-32 lead into the halftime break. The Hawks were solid from behind the arc as well, knocking 5-of-10 from deep in the half. Lyons led the Hawks with 11 points in the half and in the process, surpassed the 700-point plateau for her career. Jennifer Gureckis (Nashua, N.H.) also put up 10 points in the half, led by a pair of three-pointers. Johannah Leedham (Ellesmere Port, England) led the visitors with 12 points in the period.

In the second half, the Hawks clawed to within 12 points before Franklin Pierce pulled away for the win. Saint Anselm now leads the all-time series by a 26-12 margin, while the Ravens have taken six of the last 10 meetings with the Hawks.

Lyons led the Hawks with 17 points, along with a 15-point, 14-rebound double-double by freshman Megan Howard (St. Paul, Minn.). The double-double is her 16th of the season. Gureckis finished the game with 16 points as well for Saint Anselm.

Johannah Leedham led four Ravens in double figures. Kirsten Doldoorian (Brimfield, Mass.) added 11 points off the bench for Franklin Pierce.

With the loss, the Hawks fall to 4-21 overall and 2-18 in the Northeast-10, while the Ravens remain in first place and improve to 19-5 overall and 16-4 in the league. Saint Anselm is back in action on Saturday afternoon as the team hosts Saint Michael's for a 1:30 p.m. start at Stoutenburgh Gym.