Framingham, MA - The Framingham State College women's basketball
team overcame a 12 point deficit in the final 7:08 of regulation to
force overtime where the Rams eventually defeated the Eastern
Nazarene Crusaders 60-57 tonight at Framingham's Athletic
Center. With the win, the Rams improve to 3-4 on the season
and the Crusaders also move to 3-4.
Trailing by one at the half (19-18), the Crusaders offense led
by junior guard Christine Tucker (Antioch, CA) came alive in the
second half and used a 17-5 run over the first eight minutes to
open up a double digit lead. Tucker scored a game-high 21
points including 14 in the second half.
Trailing by 12 with 7:08 remaining, the Rams went on an 18-6 run
to tie the game at 47-47 on a baseline jumper from junior forward
Kate Simonelli (Pittsfield, MA) with 1:52 remaining. Junior
Toya Chester (Leominster, MA), who finished with a team-high 19
points and 10 rebounds, and sophomore guard Nicole McConaghy
(Medford, MA) had six points a piece on the Rams comeback run.
After a Crusader turnover, sophomore forward Jill Johnson
(Mansfield, MA), who grabbed a game-high 13 boards and four steals,
found Chester alone on the baseline and Chester nailed the short
jumper to put the Rams up 49-47 38 seconds remaining. Eastern
Nazarene freshman forward Victoria Sontag (Mont Vernon, NH) would
tie the score on the ensuing possession and force overtime.
In overtime, Simonelli drained a three and McConaghy scored a
layup to put the Rams up 58-57 with under a minute remaining.
Simonelli, who finished the day with 13 points and seven boards,
then hit two free throws to seal the win as the Crusaders last
second three was no good.
Sophomore forward Jessica Schoppee (Scarborough, ME) finished
the game with 16 points on 8 of 15 shooting from the floor and
grabbed seven rebounds for the Crusaders.
The Rams return to action on Saturday as they travel to Curry
College for a 1 p.m. game, while the Crusaders host Daniel Webster
College at 7 p.m. on Saturday.
