Fitchburg, Mass. - Junior Molly Maloney (Taunton, Mass.) netted
a game-high 19 points to pace Fitchburg State and lead the Falcons
to its first conference victory with a 69-59 win over Framingham
State College this afternoon.
Trailing by one at the half, Fitchburg State used clutch
free-throw shooting throughout the second half (17-of-24) to
collect its sixth victory of the season. Sophomore Rebecca Goreham
(Quincy, Mass.) sparked the Falcons second half run, posting ten of
her 12 points with 10-of-10 shooting from the free-throw line.
Framingham State overcame an early first-half deficit (16-8),
using a 21-10 run over a span of 5:40 to take its first lead of the
contest (27-26). The Rams took advantage of 12 Falcon fouls and 11
turnovers as Kia Minor (Oak Bluffs, Mass.) connected for nine
points in the run, including a three-point play at the 9:48 mark to
give Framingham the one point edge.
The second half remained deadlocked with five lead changes and
two scoring ties, but Fitchburg State closed out the contest with
an 8-0 run to secure the victory. Goreham led the Falcons down the
stretch, sinking six consecutive free-throws, while Maloney and
senior Kari Averill (Barre, Vt.) each netted a pair.
Maloney led the Falcons from the floor, shooting a team-best
7-for-18, including 3-of-4 from the charity stripe. Goreham drained
12-of-14 from the free-throw line to collect her third
double-double of the season (14 points, 10 boards), while junior
Melissa Proffitt (Hubbardston, Mass.) and Averill added ten points
apiece.
Sophomore Emily Clark (Melrose, Mass.) led the Rams offense,
shooting 75.0% from the floor (8-of-12) for 18 points and five
boards, while Minor barely missed a double-double with 15 points
and eight caroms (six offensive). Senior Toya Chester (Leominster,
Mass.) also chipped in 12 points and eight rebounds for the Rams.
Fitchburg State (6-5, 1-0 MASCAC) will be back in action on
Thursday as it hosts Eastern Nazarene College at 7 p.m. Framingham
State (4-5, 0-1 MASCAC) will visit Bridgewater State on Tuesday at
5:30 p.m.
