RINDGE, N.H. – Senior Allyson Smith (East Hampton, Conn.) of the Southern Connecticut State University women's basketball team registered a team-high 14 points on Saturday afternoon, but the Owls dropped a road contest to No. 1 nationally ranked Franklin Pierce at the Fieldhouse in Rindge, N.H. The final score of this Northeast-10 match-up was 88-68.

With the loss, the Owls have fallen to 9-7, 6-5 in the Northeast-10 Conference. Franklin Pierce remains undefeated with the win, improving to 15-0, 11-0 in conference play.

Johannah Leedham and the Ravens opened with a 16-5 run and never looked back after that. Franklin Pierce made scoring very difficult, as the Raven defense held Southern to 39 percent shooting from the floor. In addition, the Ravens forced 20 turnovers, leading to 22 points for the home team.

Leedham was spectacular, leading all scorers with 29 points going 10-of-15 from the field, 7-of-11 from behind the arc and grabbed eight rebounds for the Ravens.

Smith led the way for the Owls with 14 points on 5-of-12 shooting, 2-of-5 from behind the three-point line and dished out a team-high seven assists. Junior Shelley Pierson (Watervliet, N.Y.) recorded 12 points, nine rebounds and four steals, whereas freshman Ashley O'Dell (Lincoln, R.I.) dropped 11 points and dished out four assists. Juniors Logan Lentz (Chambersburg, Pa.) and LaTisha Hatcher (Detroit, Mich.) each added eight points in the losing effort.

The Owls return to action on Jan. 20 with an away game against Saint Anselm. Game time is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. in Manchester, N.H.