Box Score RINDGE, NH – The College of Saint Rose women's basketball team overcame a 14-point first half deficit to take the lead with 7:55 left in the game, but host Franklin Pierce University gutted out a see-saw battle down the stretch to walk away with a 57-53 victory over the Golden Knights in a Northeast-10 Conference clash this afternoon at The Fieldhouse. Saint Rose had its three-game winning streak snapped, while the Ravens won for the fourth time in five meetings against the Golden Knights.

Senior guard Ashley Rath reached double-figures in scoring for the 10th straight game to lead Saint Rose (12-7/9-6 NE-10). Rath finished with 13 points, four rebounds and three assists in a workmanlike 40 minutes of action. Freshman guard Gabie Polce added 10 points and three steals as well.

Franklin Pierce (13-6/10-5 NE-10) senior forward Jewel White, the reigning NE-10 Player of the Year, and fellow senior forward Marielle Giroud each registered “double-doubles”. White ended up with 17 points and 15 boards, while Giroud recorded 18 points and 14 caroms.

The Golden Knights found themselves in dire straits down 33-19 after White finished in the paint with 1:36 to go in the first period. Saint Rose actually trailed by double-digits throughout the final five minutes of the first half after converting just three field goals over that span. Rath's layup with just more than a minute left sent the Golden Knights into the locker room down 33-21. They were hurt by 31.0 percent (9-for-29) shooting from the floor.

Saint Rose switched gears quickly and proceeded to outscore the Ravens 15-4 over the first nine minutes of the second stanza to pull to within one, 37-36. Rath and Polce combined for the final eight points of the spurt. Eight lead changes followed to set up an exciting finish.

Polce nailed a 3-pointer that gave the Golden Knights their first lead, 41-40, since 17:13 of the first half. The two clubs virtually traded baskets over the next five minutes, although Saint Rose was still up 47-46 following a layup by senior guard Ola Shajuyigbe with 3:01 to go. White answered with a layup at the other end and Franklin Pierce never trailed again.

The Golden Knights limited the Ravens to just 28.0 percent (7-for-25) shooting from the floor throughout the final 20 minutes to give themselves a chance to complete the comeback. Franklin Pierce offset that deficiency by outrebounding Saint Rose 43-32 and outscoring the Golden Knights 15-6 at the foul line.

Both teams have a pair of league games on the schedule Tuesday night. Saint Rose will visit Le Moyne College in another 'Upstate Challenge' meeting, while Franklin Pierce heads to Stonehill College. Both contests are set to tip-off at 5:30 pm.