Fitchburg State Rallies Past Framingham State, 73-46

Falcons used balanced attack in first MASCAC victory of the season

FITCHBURG, Mass. (January 10, 2009) - Sophomore Kim Duprey (Bernardston, Mass./Pioneer Valley) and senior Stephanie Payette (Townsend, Mass./North Middlesex) combined for 21 points to lead Fitchburg State to a 73-46 victory over Framingham State in MASCAC action this afternoon.

Duprey led the Falcon charge with a game-high 11 points, while Payette registered ten points and team-best seven rebounds. Junior Michelle Ridge (Milton, Mass./Milton) was also solid for Fitchburg State with nine points and six boards, while freshman Rebecca Goreham (Quincy, Mass./North Quincy) collected nine points off the bench.

Senior Kate Simonelli (Pittsfield, Mass./Taconic) led the Framingham State attack with a team-high ten points and three steals. Simonelli hit 4-of-10 shots from the field, including 2-of-4 from three point range. Classmate Allie Hart (Somerset, Mass./Somerset) was also strong for the Rams with nine points and two rebounds, while junior Toya Chester (Leominster, Mass./Ayer) added nine points and a game-high ten rebounds.

After a slow start to the first half, Fitchburg State exploded for a 19-9 run over the final 8:21 to grab a 30-21 lead at the half. Payette and Ridge led the Falcon charge with six points apiece, while junior Kari Averill (Barre, Vt./Spaulding) and sophomore Melissa Proffitt (Hubbardston, Mass./Quabbin Regional) each netted five.

In the second half, Fitchburg State continued its hot-shooting, hitting 40.0% of its shots from the floor. The Falcons opened the half with a 24-8 run as Duprey connected for  three buckets from beyond the arc. The Falcons tallied a 30 point lead at the 7:21 mark and cruised to their eighth victory of the season as sophomore Molly Maloney (Taunton, Mass./Taunton) secured the victory with seven points off the bench.

Fitchburg State (8-5, 1-0 MASCAC) will be in action next Saturday as it travels to Bridgewater State College at 1 p.m. Framingham State (6-6, 0-1 MASCAC) will host Bridgewater State on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.

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Fitchburg State 73, Framingham 46