Fitchburg State Uses Late Run to Defeat Women’s Basketball 75-72

Framingham, Mass. – After leading for most of the game, the Framingham State University women's basketball team surrendered a 10-0 run in the final three minutes and were defeated 75-72 by the Fitchburg State University Falcons in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) women's basketball action this afternoon at Framingham's Athletic Center.

With the win, the Falcons improve to 13-1 on the season and 1-1 in the conference, while the Rams slip to 8-6 overall and 0-3 in the MASCAC.

Framingham State jumped out to an 8-0 lead just over two minutes into the game on three pointers from junior Madeleine Park (Blue Hill, ME) and sophomore Kristen Hoffman (Foxboro, Mass.).  The Rams extended the lead to 13-2 with 16:41 remaining in the half. 

Fitchburg State chipped away at the Rams lead and pulled within four (17-13) with 13:13 on the clock on a jumper in the paint by sophomore Madison Marek (New Ipswich, NH).  Sophomore guard Cassie Liston (Stoneham, Mass.) answered with a jumper for the Rams pushing the lead back to six (19-13).  Neither team would score for the next 4:29 of play, but a Hoffman three pointer ended the scoring draught and pushed the Rams lead back to nine. 

The Rams extended their lead back to 11 with 5:52 left in the first, but the Falcons closed the half on a 10-3 run to head into the break down four (30-26).  Hoffman led the Rams with 10 first half points, while sophomore Amy Fahey (Wilmington, Mass.) led the Falcons with 10.  Senior Rebecca Goreham (Quincy, Mass.) paced the Falcon defense with 14 first half rebounds as the Falcons outrebounded the Rams 32-18 in the frame.

In the second half, the Rams pushed the lead back to 11 points on several occasions including holding a 55-44 lead with 11:36 left in the game.  The Falcons used a 13-0 run over the next three minutes, fueled by nine points from sophomore guard Laura Cote (Ashby, Mass.) to tie the score and take their first lead of the game, 57-55, with just under nine minutes remaining.

The two teams traded baskets and the lead over the next six minutes before the Rams used a 5-0 run with Park accounting for all five points to break the game's sixth tie and take a 70-65 lead with 3:12 on the clock.  The Falcons answered with a 10-0 run of their own to retake the lead for good and secure their first conference victory of the season.

Hoffman paced the Rams with a game-high 24 points including 4-of-7 from behind the arc and filled the stat sheet with five assists, three steals and three rebounds.  Park chipped in 19 points on 7-of-16 shooting from the floor, while Bostic was the only other Ram to record double figures with 10 points.

Fahey led four Falcons in double figures with 18 points on 5-of-10 shooting from the floor to go along with eight boards, four assists and three steals.  Cote finished with 16 points and five caroms, while Jackie Boffoli (Holden, Mass.) and Kristen Enright (Westminster, Mass.) chipped in 11 points apiece.  Goreham finished the game with 20 boards, seven points and four assists as the Falcons outrebounded the Rams 57-36 in the game including a 26-10 edge on the offensive glass.

The Rams return to action on Tuesday evening at 5:30 p.m. at Salem State, while the Falcons host Worcester State on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.