Falcons Tamed by Lions in Season Opener

Fitchburg, Mass.  – The Fitchburg State Women's Basketball team opened the 2021 campaign with a 69-57 loss to the Lions of Eastern Nazarene College in non-conference action at the Parkinson Gymnasium.

The Basics

Score: Fitchburg State 69, Eastern Nazarene 57
Records: Fitchburg State (0-1) | Eastern Nazarene (1-0)

How It Happened

1st Quarter
A pair of buckets from senior Jadelen Harold (Nantucket, Mass.) opened the game for the Green and Gold for an early 4-3 lead. The Lyons regained the lead 8-6 with a trey from senior Alondra Jimenez (Santa Barbara, Calif.) but Fitchburg State answered with a three from newcomer Allison Prentis (Mansfield, Mass.) and one from the charity stripe from Rylie Harlow (Hanson, Mass.) to hold a 12-10 advantage. Knotted at 12-12 the Lions finished the frame on a 3-1 run.

2^nd Quarter
The Lions extended the second quarter lead to 25-15 with four points from first year Te'Yalla Simpson (Fairfield, Texas). The Falcons chipped away at the lead with back-to-back three-pointers from freshman Stephanie Hart (Shirley, Mass.) and Prentis evened the score at 27-all. The Falcons closed out the frame with five points from Hart to hold a 32-29 lead at intermission.

3^rd Quarter
All square at 35-35 the Lions reeled off a 13-0 run to take a 48-35 lead. Sophia Torres led the Black and Red with eight points in the run. Seniors Lovashia Rosario (Worcester, Mass.) and Jadelen Harold (Nantucket, Mass.) each added jumpers to cut the deficit to 51-42, however the Lions would push the third quarter lead (55-44) capped with a bucket from freshman Ahidali DeHuelbes (Tucson, Ariz.). 

4^th Quarter
The Lions extended the lead (62-48) on a deep ball and a jumper from senior Sydni Oviatt (Fruit Heights, Utah). Fitchburg continued to battle back with a lay-in from Harlow and a hoop from McDonald to cut the lead to 62-54, but a three pointer from freshman Shade Richardson (Lauderdale Lakes, Fla.) sealed the victory for the visitors.

Inside the Numbers

• Falcons were led by Harlow and Harold each with a team-best 12 points. Hart contributed 8 points and a team-high 10 rebound performance off the bench.
• McDonald chipped in with ten points, eight caroms, one assist, one block and one steal for Fitchburg State
• For the Lions, Oviatt led the way with 21 points and nine rebounds
• Eastern Nazarene shot 26-of-69 (37.7%) from the field and (7-for-24) 29.2% from three point range
• Fitchburg State finished 20-for-69 (29%) overall and (6-for-34) 17.6% for beyond the arc
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Up Next

Falcons return to action on Tuesday when they host Manhattanville at 6:00 PM