Head coach Cleve Wright’s program became only the second in school history to reach the nation’s highest ranking. The Gannon women’s lacrosse team was ranked No. 1 nationally in 2000 and 2001. Prior to the 2009-10 season, the highest women’s basketball national ranking was No. 5 on January 30, 2002. The highest men’s basketball national ranking was No. 3 on February 8, 1988.

Gannon (28-0) received 25 of the 27 first-place votes, accumulating 672 points. Franklin Pierce (24-1) picked up the final two first-place votes and was second with 618 points. The University of Indianapolis (25-2), Fort Lewis (Colo.) (26-2) and Michigan Tech (23-2) completed the top five.

West Texas A&M (25-2), Arkansas Tech (23-2), Fort Valley State (Ga.) (24-1), Delta State (Miss.) (21-2) and Lander (S.C.) (22-2) rounded out the top 10.

Gannon is one of two Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) teams listed in the top 25. Millersville (Pa.) is tabbed 23rd.

Seton Hill (Pa.), California (Pa.) and Fayetteville State (N.C.) were the other Atlantic region programs that received votes, but did not appear in the top 25.

Gannon moved to 28-0 for the first time in school history with PSAC Western Division road victories at Edinboro (80-72) and Indiana (Pa.) (69-48) last week. The Lady Knights have won 38 consecutive regular-season games dating back to last season. The program’s last regular-season loss was a 65-52 setback at Indiana (Pa.) on January 24, 2009.

Few teams have matched Gannon’s success this season. The Lady Knights own the second-longest winning streak at any level of the NCAA, behind only NCAA Division I Connecticut’s 66-game streak. Gannon’s 38-game regular-season win streak also represents the second-longest at any level of the NCAA, behind UConn’s 65-game stretch. The squad is the lone undefeated team left in NCAA Division II and one of five teams at any level. Division I UConn (27-0), Division I Nebraska (25-0), Division III Amherst (25-0) and Division III Christopher Newport (25-0) also have unblemished marks.

Gannon (28-0, 12-0) returns to action Wednesday, February 24 against rival Mercyhurst at the Hammermill Center. Game time is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. The Lady Knights have already clinched the PSAC Western Division regular-season title and home-court advantage throughout the PSAC Tournament.

Senior standout Johannah Leedham added to her already historic week as she dropped in 29 points on 10-of-15 shooting from the floor, including 7-of-11 from behind the three-point arc. Twenty-six (26) of those points came in the opening 20 minutes as she made nine of her 10 shots, including 6-of-7 treys. The point total gave her 2,525 for her career as she moved into eighth place in NCAA Division II women’s basketball history for career scoring. She also became just the ninth player in Division II history to top 2,500 points for her career.

Saturday’s scoring output came just days after Leedham dropped in 28 points in a road win at New Haven, which gave her the all-time career scoring record for men’s and women’s basketball in Northeast-10 Conference history.

Leedham capped her day versus SCSU with eight rebounds, five assists, two steals and a block.

The win for Franklin Pierce was its fourth in as many games since becoming the nation’s top-ranked team back on Jan. 5. The Ravens have won 28 of their last 29 games overall and 20-straight regular season games dating back to the end of last season.

Also of note from Saturday’s win was head coach Steve Hancock earning his 150th career victory on the Ravens bench. Hancock coached the Franklin Pierce women’s program for eight seasons from 1988-96 and compiled a 135-92 record with three trips to the NCAA Division II Tournament and two New England Collegiate Conference championships. Following a brief hiatus from the program, Hancock returned and spent the past three seasons as an assistant coach. He returned to the head coaching seat this season and has guided the top-ranked Ravens to their 15-0 start. Hancock’s 150 wins are the most for a head coach in program history.

Franklin Pierce returns to action Wednesday night when it plays host to Assumption at 5:30 p.m. in The Fieldhouse.

FULL STORY

–Courtesy FPC Athletics

The game was fast-paced throughout. Minnesota State held a 58-56 advantage at halftime and pushed it to six in the first five minutes of the second half. Franklin Pierce rallied and ultimately went on a 9-0 run in the second half that pushed the Ravens to an 82-74 advantage with 10:57 remaining.

The Mavericks came back with their own spurt, a 10-2 run capped by a Johnson trey with 6:51 to play.

The teams then traded baskets before a Mankato 10-2 run left the Mavericks in control 98-90 with just over a minute remaining. Minnesota State hit 5-7 free throws down the stretch to seal the title.

Jennifer Leedham scored 31 points for Franklin Pierce. Her sister, Johnnah, added 26 points and 10 rebounds.

Both teams were sizzling from the field. Minnesota State-Mankato hit 41-74 (55 percent) while Franklin Pierce converted 37-65 (57 percent). The Mavericks held a 35-28 rebounding advantage.

–Courtesy NCAA.com

For the second year in a row, the Delta State‘s run at a National Championship in women’s basketball was ended one round short of a title shot, falling 58-39 to Franklin Pierce University Wednesday at Bill Greehey Arena on the campus of St. Mary’s University.

The Ravens (29-5) out-scored the Lady Statesmen (30-7) 20-10 over the first 13 minutes of the second half, to extend their lead to 49-32, and held Delta State to just seven points over the final seven minutes of the game. The Ravens finished the game shooting 40.4-percent, and were 6-of-23 from three-point range. The Lady Statesmen made just one shot from behind the arc in 11 attempts.

FULL STORY

–Courtesy GoStatesmen.com

Mavericks Roll Past Seawolves to the NCAA Finals

The #4 Minnesota State Mavericks defeated the #2 Alaska-Anchorage Seawolves 83-60 to advance to the NCAA Finals. The win brings MSU’s record to 31-2, while UAA ends its season with a 32-4 record.

The Mavericks set a quick pace early on as they connected on their first six shots from the field to build a 17-6 lead with 13:48 left on the clock. Senior guard Heather Johnson chipped in 10 points during that span, including two shots from beyond the three point line. MSU maintained its double-digit lead throughout most of the second half as it held an 11 point lead at 58-47 with less than nine minutes left in the game. The Seawolves then managed to pull within seven points to Mavericks at 58-51.

The floodgates opened after this as the Mavericks responded with a 9-0 to extend their lead to 67-51 and never looked back as they closed out the game with an 83-60 win. Johnson led all scorers with 25 points, while shooting 5-of-7 from behind the three point line. With her five three point field goals Johnson has tied Kelli Freeman for the most three point field goals made in a career at MSU with 241.

Minnesota State will take on the winner of the #24 Delta State/#14 Franklin Pierce game Friday.

FULL STORY

–Courtesy MSU Athletics

The Lady Statesmen pressured the West Texas A & M Lady Buffs right out of Texas, and the Elite Eight. The dominant defense of Delta State held their opponents to just 13 first half points, and the Lady Statesmen survived a late stampede by the Lady Buffs to claim a 55-47 victory and a trip to the National Semifinals.

With 4:12 left in the game, the Lady Statesmen (30-6) enjoyed a seemingly comfortable 45-30 lead. Just over three minutes later, West Texas (28-6) cut the lead to just four points at 49-45. The Lady Statesmen made four free throws in the final minute of the game and allowed just two more points to take the victory.

The Lady Statesmen were dominate early defensively, holding West Texas A & M to just 23.1-percent shooting in the first half. After jumping out to a 7-0 lead over the first three minutes of the half, the Lady Buffs rallied to cut the lead to four nearly ten minutes later.

Delta State took a 19-13 lead into the locker room at halftime behind the hot hand of Courtney Wilson, who made 2-of-4 shots from the field and 3-of-3 from the free throw line to lead the Lady Statesmen with seven points.

Freshman Veronica Walker led all scorers with 14 points and grabbed nine rebounds. She also had four key blocks. Denesha Henderson added a career-high 12 points and five rebounds, while Wilson added nine points.

The Lady Statesmen shot 55.6-percent in the second half, increasing their shooting percentage to 46.8 for the game, while holding the Lady Buffs to a mere 25.4-percent, establishing a new NCAA postseason record for DSU.

FULL STORY

–Courtesy GoStatesmen.com

No. 14 Franklin Pierce Defeats No. 6 California (Pa), 88-73

Despite 30 points from senior guard Linsday Johnson the No. 6 Vulcans suffered an 88-73 loss to No. 14 Franklin Pierce University (N.H.) in the NCAA Division II Elite Eight on Tuesday at the Bill Greehey Arena.

The California University of Pennsylvania women’s basketball team finished the season with a 29-5 overall record after making its fourth Elite Eight appearance in the last seven seasons.

Franklin Pierce‘s Johannah Leedham led the team with 30 points, shooting 9-of-13, while teammates Toby Martin and Jennifer Leedham finished with 16 a piece.

Vulcans’ Johnson scored a team-high 30 points on 12-of-17 shooting from the floor, including three-of-six from beyond the arc. She also collected six rebounds and two assists. The Ohio native moved into No. 10 place in school history with 1,263 points, surpassing former teammate Kim Nowakowski (2004-07). Johnson also finished her career as one of the most prolific three-point shooters in school history, ranking third all-time with 156 treys.

Franklin Pierce will face the winner of Delta State and West Texas A&M Wednesday.

–Courtesy Cal (PA) Athletics

Huge comeback earns Seawolves Final 4 berth

All-America center Rebecca Kielpinski delivered 14 points and 13 rebounds and Alaska Anchorage held Clayton State without a field goal for the final eight minutes Tuesday to earn a 66-59 win in the quarterfinal round of the NCAA Division II Women’s Basketball Championships.

Ruby Williams and Tamar Gruwell added 11 points apiece for 2nd-ranked UAA (31-3), which advances to its second consecutive national semifinal appearance. The Seawolves will face 4th-ranked Minnesota State (30-2) in that game Wednesday. Clayton State (26-7), the winner of the Southeast Region, was led by 12 points from reserve forward Nikkisha Pritchett.

The Seawolves started the game on a roll, scoring the first 12 points before CSU called a timeout. But that break got the Lakers rolling as the Atlanta-based squad turned up its full-court pressure and drained three straight three-pointers to make UAA’s lead evaporate in less than two minutes. CSU continued to thrive from its pressure throughout the half, forcing 17 UAA turnovers and taking a 39-30 lead into the locker room – the Seawolves’ largest halftime deficit of the season.

The Lakers maintained their lead at around seven to 11 points throughout the first 12 minutes of the second half, but UAA – the nation’s leading defensive club – would bounce back after falling behind 56-43 at the 8:35 mark. Freshman forward Hanna Johansson started the decisive 23-3 surge with an inside bucket, and Williams followed with a layup a minute later. From there, Gruwell – scoreless to that point in the game – took over on the offensive end, draining three three-pointers in a two-and-half-minute span. Her final swish tied it 57-57 at the 5-minute mark, and Clayton State could not regain control.

FULL STORY

–Courtesy Alaska-Anchorage Athletics

Minnesota Mankato Moves On To Semi-finals

The No. 4 Minnesota State Mavericks kept their NCAA Championship aspirations alive as they defeated the Michigan Tech Huskies 61-53 in their first ever Elite Eight game. The win brings MSU’s record to 30-2, while Michigan Tech ends its season with a 27-7 record.

The first half began with Michigan Tech jumping out to an early 14-8 lead with 13:19 left in the half. The Huskies shot 4-of-4 from three point land during that stretch. The Mavericks and Huskies would remain close the rest of the way, exchanging the lead four times, with Michigan Tech finishing the half with a 31-30 lead. The Huskies finished the half shooting 6-of-7 from beyond the three point line. Senior guard Jo Noreen led all scorers with 12 points, while shooting 4-of-5 from the field. Senior forward Alex Andrews posted a team-high six rebounds, along with four points.

Scoring was at a premium early on in the second as Michigan Tech held a two-point lead at 36-34 with 14:00 left in the half. The Mavericks would then begin a 15-5 run, behind seven points from junior guard Tiffany Moe, to take a 49-41 lead with 8:31 left in regulation. MSU would then extend its lead to 11, at 56-45, behind a three point shot from sophomore guard Andrea Walsh with 4:21 left in the game. The Mavericks would not look back as they closed out the game with a 61-53 win. Noreen paced the Mavericks with 20 points, along with six rebounds and five steals. Moe added 11 points, eight rebounds and a career-high five steals. Moe and Noreen combined for 10 of MSU’s 12 steals. Andrews recorded her 12th career double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Minnesota State will take on the winner of the Alaska-Anchorage in the NCAA Final Four Wednesday.

FULL STORY

–Courtesy Minnesota State Mankato Athletics

LIFE IS GRAND: Grand Valley State rose to No. 1 in the latest Collegiate Baseball Division II poll for the first time in school history after putting together a 21-2 mark to open the season for the best start in program history. The Lakers went 5-0 last week led by rightfielder Cody Grice’s offensive production, and senior left-hander Andre Benjamin’s prowess on the mound. The Lakers look to extend their 13-game winning streak at No. 12 Ashland in a GLIAC doubleheader on March 25.

MILLER TIME: Minnesota State’s Danny Miller set a school record with 11 consecutive hits in the first three games against Northern State last weekend, surpassing the previous mark of 10 by Jason Pfingsten set in 1996. The Mavericks have won six straight games, and currently are tied with Wayne State for first place in the NSIC standings after the first weekend of league play.

MILES AHEAD: Nova Southeastern junior Miles Mikolas garnered Sunshine State Conference Pitcher of the Week honors after stifling then-No. 12 Tampa’s offense in a 5-1 complete-game victory last week. The Sharks took two of three games from Tampa after beginning the week with a win over Franklin Pierce, and vaulted up 11 spots to No. 10 in the latest Collegiate Baseball Division II poll for their recent success.

EAGLE FLIES: Southern Indiana’s Alex Thieroff not only turned an incredible week at the plate for the Screaming Eagles, but capped off a four-game series versus Drury with a victory on the mound. The Eagles have won eight of their last nine games, and broke into the latest Collegiate Baseball Division II poll at No. 22 for their efforts.

NOTABLE: Mansfield head coach Harry Hillson recorded his 700th career victory with a 14-13 win against Wilmington University on March 18, becoming only the third head coach in Pennsylvania collegiate baseball history to reach the milestone. He has coached the Mountaineers for 23 seasons … Merrimack freshman right-hander Chris Pinette tossed the first no-hitter in school history as he struck out three batters in a 4-0 victory against Philadelphia on March 21. The Norwood, Mass., native retired the final 12 batters faced, and walked only one hitter in the outing. He was named Northeast-10 Pitcher of the Week for his achievement.

FULL STORY

–Courtesy of NCAA.com

Franklin Pierce (17-2-4) claims the sixth National Championship in University history, adding to its five women’s soccer national championships in the mid-to-late 1990’s. The Ravens first men’s title comes in the program’s third Final Four appearance and after they were national runners up in 2005. Lincoln Memorial University (20-4-1) saw its quest for its first national championship come up just short after making its second-straight Final Four appearance and first title match.

“The one thing we stress in this program is that we can all be great players that you need personality and character,” said Franklin Pierce Head Coach Marco Koolman. “I think in those last two areas, these seniors have passed along that message to anyone who joined the program. I’m just so happy for these players, our University and alumni.”

Grad student David Clifton (London, England) earned Most Outstanding Offensive Player honors of the Final Four as he netted the lone goal of the match with just 1:50 to play in regulation. He took a pass on the right channel from junior Frantz Francois (Saint-Marc, Haiti/Palm Beach Lakes (Fla.)) and chipped a shot over LMU senior goalkeeper Brent Cole (Knoxville, Tenn.) and into the upper left corner of the net for his NCAA Division II record ninth goal of the Tournament.

“[The goal] happened so fast, I just tried to lift it over and it went in,” said Clifton. “It’s really nice to break records, but it’s most satisfying to win as a team and represent the University.”

Clifton, who broke the Division II record for career tournament goals with ten, scored Franklin Pierce’s last eight goals of the season and nine of the Ravens 11 markers in the NCAA Tournament. He capped his season with 25 goals and three assists for 53 points.

“In a game like this it takes scoring one more goal than the opposition,” said Koolman. “It was very much an appropriate goal for David to score.”

Senior All-America goalkeeper James Thorpe (East Longmeadow, Mass./Bridgton Academy) was forced to make just one save to preserve the championship victory and his 12th shutout of the season to earn Most Outstanding Defensive Player honors for the Final Four. The shutout was the 49th of his four-year career – just one shy of the Division II record of 50 set by former Southern Connecticut State University All-American Bo Oshoniyi in the early 1990’s.

Thorpe also broke the NCAA all-division record for minutes played by a goalkeeper less than six minutes into the contest. His 8,391:11 career minutes played surpass the previous collegiate record of 8,306 set by Steve McCullough, who played for UNC Ashville and Marquette from 1991-94.

Joining Clifton and Thorpe on the All-Tournament team were Francois and senior backs Michel Vitulano (Montreal, Quebec/College de Maisonneuve) and Bisharra Ettienne (East Elmhurst, N.Y./Dominica State College).

Lincoln Memorial posted a 12-7 advantage in shots for the match, but placed just one shot on target. The Ravens had two shots on goal and enjoyed the better run of play and scoring chances all afternoon.

“Our sport is so unforgiving sometimes it makes no sense,” said Lincoln Memorial Head Coach Helio D’Anna. “We live in a reality where not necessarily possessing, out-possessing, out-shooting our out-doing anything guarantees anything. Franklin Pierce is a great team, but we feel we did what it took to win the game. That’s soccer and that’s why we love this game.”

Cole finished with one save for LMU, that coming less than four minutes into the contest when he charged off his line to stop a drive by junior Marek Hawrylik (Olztyn, Poland/The Winchendon (Mass.) School) from point-blank range after a nice give-and-go with Clifton.

“I think we struggled in the first half,” said Koolman. “Part of it was nerves and some players not realizing what was at stake. Part of that we set straight at halftime and made some tactical changes.”

“For everyone involved in the program, it’s been a long hard battle, but I am proud, happy, and delighted for our school,” said Koolman. “It’s great and wonderful to be the national champions.”

–courtesy FPU

ORANGE BEACH, Ala. – In just its 10th year of existence, The University of Tampa women’s soccer team won the NCAA II national championship with a 3-1 shootout victory over five-time national champ Franklin Pierce College. With the game scoreless following regulation and two overtime periods, the 19-2-4 Spartans took the shootout to claim the program’s first title.

After being outshot 4-3 in the first half, the Spartans held a 4-0 advantage in the second half. Through 110 minutes of play, UT held an 11-7 advantage in shots as both goalkeepers were perfect in net. Shannon Aitken made two saves for Tampa while FPC’s Brittany Ester had four.

The shootout session needed just four shots for Tampa as Shelby Kuni, Megan Tobin and Ashley Flateland each connected for the Spartans. Aitken turned away the first three Raven shots before allowing one through. Flateland’s penalty kick went down as the game-winner to clinch the victory for Tampa.

The two teams were similar in many categories, with each taking six corner kicks. The match also had 39 fouls, 20 for Tampa and 19 for Franklin Pierce. Shots on goal went in Tampa’s favor at 4-2.

No stranger to national championships, UT has now claimed 12 national titles in the history of its athletics program. Recent success has been unparalled as Tampa has now won four national championships in less than two years. Women’s soccer now joins baseball (2006, 2007) and volleyball (2006) as recent champs.

–Courtesy University of Tampa