Beth Plasski, Charde Floyd escort Greyhound women's basketball past Franklin Pierce, 64-56, in Northeast-10 Conference playoff opener

February 25, 2007

RINDGE, NH --- Sophomore guard BETHANY PLASSKI (Fall River, MA/Durfee) scored 18 points and junior forward CHARDE FLOYD (Worcester, MA/Worcester Academy) tied her career high with 18 rebounds as No. 9 seeded Assumption College came-from-behind to defeat No. 8 seeded Franklin Pierce College, 64-56, in the first round of the Northeast-10 Conference women's basketball playoffs here SUNDAY.

The Greyhounds, the only visiting team to win in the opening round of the conference playoffs, will now play at eighth-ranked and top-seeded Southern Connecticut State (25-2, 20-2) TUESDAY night at the Owls' Moore Fieldhouse in New Haven, CT. Tapoff is slated for 7 p.m.

Tuesday's quarterfinal winners will move on to the conference Final Four to be played at the highest remaining seed Friday and Saturday. All games will be web videocast by NE-10 TV.

Assumption is now 13-15 overall, while Franklin Pierce completes its season at 17-11. The Ravens had beaten the Greyhounds twice during the regular-season losing 70-53 in the Laska Gym and 61-58 at Rindge.

The contribution of junior guard BRITT BISHOP (Mendon, MA/Nipmuc) can't be overlooked. Bishop scored 12 points---making four-of-six three-pointers---and had five assists and three rebounds (all on the offensive glass) in 33 minutes.

And, the Greyhounds indeed came-from-behind to win this one.

Assumption came out-of-the-gate quickly moving to an 8-5 advantage however it was 10-10 just 4:51 into the half. The Ravens then went on a 28-11 spurt to take control and led by 17 points (38-21) blistering the nets for seven three-pointers in 16 attempts. The Greyhounds then rallied to cut it to seven points at the half, 38-31---outscoring the the home team 10-0 over the last 4:56.

After the Ravens JOSIE LIDKE (11 points) canned her second long three-pointer to make it 38-21, Floyd made two free throws, freshman forward KAYLA PARKER (Sanford, ME/Sanford) (12 points, 7 rebounds) cashed in a short lane jumper, Floyd scored on an inside move, Parker hit both ends of a one-and-one situation and finally Plasski drilled a wing jumper with 23 seconds left. Franklin Pierce missed all five of its attempts during the run after making 14 of its first 24---58 percent---including 0-for-3 from behind the arc after making seven of its first 13.

In the second half, the Greyhounds tightened their defense, limiting the Ravens to just 22 percent floor accuracy (6-of-27) including a paltry two-of-11 from behind the arc. The Hounds, with Floyd grabbing 14 rebounds herself, dominated the board action 30-18.

The Greyhounds outscored the home team 23-15 to take a 54-53 lead with 5:08 left on three-pointer by Bishop.

Parker started the second-half with an inside move to make it 38-33 with 19:07 remaining and then both teams went cold as Franklin Pierce led 41-33 with 15:19 left. Over five minutes after Parker's opening basket she hit the second of a two-shot foul to make it 41-34.

Then in succession Plasski, then Bishop and then Plasski again made three pointers to cut the gap to three points (46-43). Lidke then hit a jumper for the Ravens and the Greyhounds senior guard JESS PAULSON (North Providence, RI/LaSalle Academy) scored on a driving layup off a Plasski steal with 7:42 left. The Ravens JENNIFER LEEDHAM (13 points, 7 rebounds) then hit a baseline jumper before Paulson hit a jumper. Paulson tied the Greyhounds' career mark for games played (115)---with Kerry Milhaven '06 and Meghan Sullivan '03.

After the Ravens MEGAN MC INTYRE connected on a short runner, the Hounds junior forward MEGAN URBAN (Portland, ME/Deering) (8 points, 5 rebounds in 19 minutes) made back-to-back inside moves on feeds from Floyd and freshman guard AMANDA SHEEHY (Linden, NJ/Roselle Catholic) setting the stage for the go-ahead three by Bishop.

Senior guard ASHLEY LAMBERT (Cumberland, RI/Cumberland) then made both ends of a one-and-one to make it 56-53 with 3:44 left. Plasski drained four straight free throws in the final seconds to secure the win.