A Second Chance

by Joseph Landini
The Exchange

Perception changes from right after a major loss is suffered to looking back at it five days later, especially when it comes to this year’s Franklin Pierce Women’s Basketball team.

On Friday March 11th, #3 Franklin Pierce fell to #6 Pace in the opening round of the 2011 Division II NCAA Tournament, 64-62. The final seconds of the opening round game saw Pace’s Brittany Shields hit a jumper from the free throw line to send the Ravens home for the season. The talk around the tournament before hand was that this opening game would be tougher for the Ravens, then the possible second round match up against the number two seed Holy Family. Reason being, the Ravens have defeated Holy Family all three times in the past three years. Unfortunately for Franklin Pierce it never got to that point. Despite the loss, the Ravens had two strong performance. One by the Northeast 10 Player of the Year Jewel White, who scored 19 points and grabbed 14 rebounds. Freshmen Brooke Coderre also had an impressive game off the bench scoring 13 of her own.

The season ends in upset form, but the season and the future were and are bright as can be. Before the 2010-2011 season the expectations for this team were in question , and were not high. With former Division II Player of the Year Johannah Leedham no longer with the team, the Ravens were left without a leader and a main go to player. White became that player all season capturing various accolades, while her teammate Marielle Girould captured Northeast 10 Defensive player of the year honors. Aside from these two juniors, the team was surprised by outstanding play and development by sophomores Tiffany Johnson and Amanda Saab. For Johnson, her potential to be a main scoring threat showed this season as her shooting and offensive ability improved since being a freshmen a year ago. For Saab, as a freshmen she was a role player who shot only 3s it seemed like. This year, she became one of the most versatile players in the Northeast 10. Her improvement of driving to the basket, and low post play only added to her ability of shooting the long ball. The surprise of the season was the play of the three incoming freshmen guards. Brittany Martelle showed perimeter shooting ability, Coderre did that and was a feisty ball defender, and Kate McDonald was the floor general the entire season being the Ravens main point guard to run all the plays. The Ravens finished the season 24-8 overall, while posting a second place finish and an 18-4 record in the Northeast 10.

Looking forward the Ravens future may have never been as bright as it is right now. Of the 12 players on the Ravens roster, all 12 will return for the 2011-2012 campaign. With the two players of the year, the improving Johnson/Saab combination, and the developing class of 2014, things could not get any better right? Wrong. How about adding a three year starter in the front court in Tori Aherns, and a possible player of the year candidate in Cynthia Gaudet. Both Aherns and Gaudet sat out the 2010-2011 season with injuries. Aherns adds another dominant rebounder, and low post threat to a front court, which already has dominance with White and tenacity with Girould. Gaudet, before the injury, was projected as the possible Northeast 10 Player of the Year. As the Ravens point guard from 2007-2010, Gaudet shoots the ball with effectiveness, and becomes the Ravens best decision maker as soon as she steps on the Field House court again. With most of the top Northeast 10 schools losing major players to graduation at seasons end, the Ravens will most likely be the favorite to win the conference.

If all falls in place, and the team develops the chemistry like years past, a National Championship may be coming to Franklin Pierce very soon.