WALTHAM, Mass.- The #4 seed Pace University Setters came up short to the #5 seed Franklin Pierce University 78-68 in the First Round of the NCAA Division II Basketball Tournament. The Setters finish their season at 20-9 overall, while the Ravens improve to 20-9 and advance to the East Region Semifinals against Bentley University on Saturday night.

Franklin Pierce jumped to an 8-0 lead in the first three minutes as they led the entire first half. The Ravens led by as much as 21 points at 31-10 with 5:59 remaining the half. The Setters closed the half with a 16-9 run as Allison Cleary (New Windsor, NY/Cornwall Central) (New Windsor, NY/Cornwall Central) hit a pair of triples and converted a three-point play in the run. Brianna Harris (Brentwood, NY/Mary Louis Academy) (Brentwood, NY/Mary Louis Academy) completed a three-point play in the final minute as Pace trailed 40-26 at the break.

The Setters rallied early in the second half as they pulled to within seven points at 48-41 with 13 and half minutes left in the game. The Ravens answered as they used an 8-0 run to push their lead to 56-41 with 9:10 remaining in the game.

Pace again rallied as they sliced the score to five points at 60-55 with 4:35 remaining in a pair of free throws by Brittany Shields (Cold Spring, NY/Haldane). Franklin Pierce pushed the score back to nine points but Kerri White's (Flushing, NY/Archbishop Molloy) (Flushing, NY/Archbishop Molloy/Manhattan College) three-point play with 1:58 to play got the Setters back four points at 66-62. Pace stayed close in the final of play but the Ravens held on for the win as they went 10-for-11 at the free throw line in the final minute.

For Pace, Shields posted a double-double with 21 points and 10 rebounds along with two steals. Carol Johnson (New City, NY/Cardinal Spellman) finished with 11 points and three assists, while Cleary tallied nine points, five rebounds, three assists and a pair of steals. White netted 15 points, four boards, three assists and two steals.