Curry Edges Fitchburg State, 73-62

Maloney nets a team-best 16 in Falcons non-conference loss

MILTON, Mass. (January 11, 2010) - Junior Molly Maloney (Taunton, Mass./Taunton) led Fitchburg State for the second straight game, posting a team-best 16 points, but the Falcons fell to Curry College, 73-62 in non-conference action.

Maloney paced the Falcons offensive attack, shooting 5-of-15 from the field, 2-of-8 from three point range and a perfect 4-for-4 from the charity stripe, while junior Melissa Proffitt (Hubbardston, Mass./Quabbin Regional) narrowly missed a double-double with 13 points (5-for-11) and nine rebounds. Senior Kari Averill (Barre, Vt./Spaulding) was also solid for the Falcons, adding nine points on 3-of-5 shooting from long range.

Fitchburg State opened the contest with an early 5-0 lead, but the hosts rifled off seven unanswered points capped by  pair of free throws by freshman guard Hailey Rafferty (Worcester, Mass./Holy Name) to post a 7-5 advantage. The Falcons re-took the lead with 7:01 to go on a jumper by junior guard Kelley Rogers (Lowell, Mass./Lowell), but Curry responded moments later, taking the lead for good on a jumper by junior Joneiha Veiga (Brockton, Mass./Brockton).

Curry used a 48.3% shooting effort to grab a six point margin (39-33) at the half and maintained its lead throughout much of the second frame to clinch its fifth victory of the season.  Fitchburg State pulled within three with 12:45 to go after a three-pointer by junior guard Kim Duprey (Bernardston, Mass./Pioneer Valley) but Curry raced out to its largest lead of the game (62-50) at the 7:11 mark to seal the game.

Freshman guard Julia Scrubb (Stowe, Vt./Stowe) and Veiga spearheaded the Colonels attack with 17 points apiece, while Rafferty notched 12 points and six boards. Senior Liz Forte (Rutland, Vt./Mount St. Joseph) also chipped in with 12 points, three rebounds and three steals for the hosts.

Fitchburg State (6-6, 1-0 MASCAC) will be back in action on Thursday as it hosts Eastern Nazarene College at 7 p.m. Curry (5-6, 0-1 TCCC) will travel to the University of New England tomorrow at 6 p.m.

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Curry 73, Fitchburg State 62