Fitchburg State Rallies Past Framingham State, 75-72

Falcons earn first conference win of the year behind 18 points from Fahey

FITCHBURG, Mass. (January 14, 2012) – The Fitchburg State women's basketball team overcame a four point half-time deficit to earn its first conference victory of the season, downing Framingham State, 75-72 in MASCAC action this afternoon.

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, Maine) and sophomore Kristen Hoffman (Foxboro, Mass.) and later extended its lead to 11 (13-2) by the 16:41 mark. Fitchburg State chipped away at the Rams lead and pulled within four (17-13) with 13:13 on the clock as Madison Marek (New Ipswich, N.H./Saint Bernards) knocked down a jumper, but sophomore Cassie Liston (Stoneham, Mass.) answered 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). 

In the second half, Framingham State extended its lead back to 11 points on several occasions, including a 55-44 margin with 11:36 left in the game. Fitchburg State answered the call again, using a 13-0 run over the next three minutes to post its first lead of the game with just under nine minutes remaining. Sophomore Laura Cote (Ashby, Mass./Saint Bernards) fueled the surge with nine points, including the go-ahead basket at the 8:54 mark.

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. The Falcons countered with a 10-0 run of their own to retake the lead for good and secure their first conference victory of the season.

Sophomore Amy Fahey (Wilmington, Mass./Wilmington) led four Falcons in double figures, totaling 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./Wachusett Regional) and Kristen Enright (Westminster, Mass./Oakmont) chipped in 11 points apiece. 

Hoffman paced the Rams with a game-high 24 points including 4-of-7 from behind the arc, while Park chipped in 19 points on 7-of-16 shooting from the floor.

Fitchburg State (13-1, 1-1 MASCAC) will be back in action on Tuesday as it hosts Worcester State at 5:30 p.m. Framingham State (8-6, 0-3 MASCAC) will visit Salem State on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.