Late Three Lifts Women’s Basketball Past Worcester State 65-63

Framingham, Mass. – Freshman Abbey Battaini (Haverhill, Mass.) nailed a three from the left wing with 1:54 remaining in the game to propel the Framingham State University women's basketball team to a 65-63 victory over Worcester State University this evening in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) action at the Athletic Center.

With the win, the Rams improve to 8-6 on the year and 2-0 in the MASCAC, while the Lancers fall to 6-8 overall and are now 0-2 in league play.

The Rams were paced by 25 points from sophomore Mary Kate O'Day (Berlin, Mass.). O'Day connected on eight-of-18 from the floor including four-of-nine from behind the arc to go along with two rebounds, three assists and a steal.  Senior Raegan Mulherin (Baldwinville, Mass.) added 18 points, five rebounds, three assists and five steals.  Junior Tiphani Harris (Revere, Mass.) chipped in with eight points and nine rebounds, while Battaini added six points on two-of-four from behind the arc.

The Lancers were led by a double double of 18 points and 15 rebounds, including six offensive boards, from Kaitlyn Berkel.  Junior Britt Herring added 13 points and five rebounds with four blocks, while Kate Surprenant added 10 points and four assists.  Sophomore Catherine Sweeney chipped in with five points, 10 rebounds and seven assists.

The Lancers, who never trailed in the game until the closing minutes, jumped out to a 10-3 lead midway through the first quarter and led 16-8 after one.

The Rams cut the deficit to four on a pair of Mulherin free throws in the opening minutes of the second, but the Lancers used a 6-0 run to push the lead to 10.  The Rams chipped away at the lead and pulled within four at the half after back-to-back threes from O'Day.

The Lancers opened the third quarter with a run taking a 32-25 lead on a Berkel jumper, but the Rams answered with a run tying the game at 34-34 on a pair of free throws with 5:11 remaining in the quarter.  Worcester took the lead back on a Surprenant layup and eventually led 50-42 after three.

Worcester maintained the lead through the opening minutes of the fourth leading by as many as nine, 58-49, before the Rams outscored them 16-5 over the final seven minutes to come up with the victory. Worcester led 63-60 with 2:22 on the clock, but a Harris bucket in the paint cut the lead to one.  On the ensuing possession for the Lancers, Mulherin came up with a steal and found Battaini on the wing for the game-winner and what would be the Rams only lead of the evening.  The Lancers had three looks at the game tying or go ahead shot in the final 30 seconds, but could not connect.

Both teams resume MASCAC action on Saturday with the Rams hosting Salem State University at 1 p.m., and the Lancers traveling to MCLA at 1 p.m.