Fitchburg State Stuns Salem State, 66-64

Rogers leads Falcon post regionally ranked Vikings with 17 points and eight rebounds

FITCHBURG, Mass. (February 14, 2010) - Junior Kelley Rogers (Lowell, Mass./Lowell) registered a team-high 17 points as Fitchburg State stunned, regionally ranked, Salem State College with a 66-64 victory on Saturday afternoon. 

Salem State, who entered the contest ranked ninth in the Northeast Region, falls to 16-7 (7-3 MASCAC) on the season, while Fitchburg State improved to 10-13 on the year and 4-6 in the MASCAC.

Rogers led a series of Fitchburg State players in double figures, shooting 5-10 from the floor and 6-of-7 from the charity stripe for her team-best 17 points. The junior guard also added a team-high eight rebounds in the contest, including five offensive caroms. Sophomore Rebecca Goreham (Quincy, Mass./North Quincy) contributed 13 points and six boards to the offensive mix, while junior Melissa Proffitt (Hubbardston, Mass./Quabbin Regional) and senior Kari Averill (Barre, Vt./Spaulding) finished with 13 and ten respectively.

In a game that witnessed nine lead changes and eight ties, neither team mustered more than a six point lead as Fitchburg State picked up its tenth victory of the season in comeback fashion. Trailing by six in the opening minutes of the second half, the Falcons strung together a pair of offensive runs. Fitchburg State opened the period with an impressive 9-2 run and later posted an 8-2 surge to notch a six point advantage by the 7:30 mark.

Salem State rallied back late led by senior Danielle Jenkins' (Marlborough, Mass./Marlborough) game-high 32 points. Jenkins and Eric Batchelder (Stoughton, Mass./Stoughton) brought the Vikings back on top (61-59) with 2:39 remaining in the contest as the pair combined for 12 points over a five minutes span.

Fitchburg State had the answer however as senior Kim Duprey (Bernardston, Mass./Pioneer Valley) connected on a long-range jumper to give Fitchburg State a 62-61 lead. The Falcons increased their lead to four points with only five seconds remaining, sealing their victory with clutch free-throwing shooting. Averill and Rogers secured the Falcons victory with perfect 4-of-4 shooting from the charity stripe, while Proffitt iced the contest with a steal in the closing seconds.

Fitchburg State (9-13, 3-6 MASCAC) will be back in action on Tuesday as it travels to MCLA at 5:30 p.m. Salem State (16-7, 7-3 MASCAC) will host Bridgewater State on Tuesday at 6 p.m.

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Fitchburg State 66, Salem State 64