Vikings Sail past Falcons, 77-65

Marazzi game-high 16 points

Fitchburg, Mass. Fitchburg State University women's basketball team fell to the Vikings of Salem State University, 77-65 on Wednesday evening in Massachusetts Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) action at Parkinson Gymnasium.

The Basics

Score: Fitchburg State University 65, Salem State University 77
Records: Fitchburg State (5-15, 0-8 MASCAC) | Salem State (8-13, 4-4 MASCAC)

How It Happened

Salem opened the game with a quick 5-2 lead on baskets from Gianna Moschella (Peabody, Mass.) and Norma Waggett (Saugus, Mass.), but the Falcons would respond with a 17-6 run to close out the first quarter with a 19-11 lead. Sophomore Angelina Marazzi (Manchester, NH) led the scoring spree with 9 points, while senior Mercy Frimpong (Worcester, Mass.) closed out the frame with an uncontested layup for the hosts' eight point advantage.

The teams traded baskets for the first half of the second stanza and the Falcons would take their largest lead of the game when freshman Mikaela Mitchell (Millbury, Mass.) hit the front end of two free-throws. Trailing by eight (36-28) with 1:58 on the clock, Salem outscore Fitchburg State 6-0 including a trey from sophomore Christina Corey (Methuen, Mass.) as time expired to only trail by two (36-34) heading into intermission.

Salem continued the streak to start the second half with ten unanswered points to lead 44-36 at the 7:36 mark.  With 5:12 remaining the Green and Gold had cut the deficit to 46-44 with a pair of 3-point scores from Mishelle Logie (Attleboro, Mass.) and Mikala Malboeuf (Fitchburg, Mass.) and a layup in the paint from Mitchell. It was as close as the Falcons could get as the Vikings finished the quarter with a 57-50 lead.

Trailing 72-59 midway through the last stanza, Fitchburg State would get four straight points on baskets from Michaela McTomney (Bellingham, Mass.) and Frimpong to get the shortfall under ten points, however Salem would pull away down the stretch for the 77-65 final.

Inside the Numbers

FSU guard Marazzi led all scores with 16 points, added six assists and collected seven rebounds.

McTomney had a game-high 14 rebounds to go along with six points for the Falcons

Salem's Waggett collected her 1,000 point in the win. She finished the contest with 14 points

Kia Fernandes (Wareham, Mass.) had a team-high 15 points for the visitors, she added 13 rebounds for the games only double-double.

Salem State has won the five of the last six contest against Fitchburg State, including a 69-45 decision (1/10/2018) at Twohig Gymnasium earlier this season.

Up Next

Fitchburg State University returns to action on Saturday afternoon when they travel to Pine Manor College for a non-conference match-up, game time is 1:00pm. The Vikings host Framingham State on Saturday at 1:00 pm.