Framingham State Defeats Fitchburg State, 57-48

Rogers collects ten point, 11 rebound effort in MASCAC setback

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. (January 30, 2010) - Junior Kelley Rogers (Lowell, Mass./Lowell) notched her first double-double of the season to pace Fitchburg State, but the Falcons suffered a tough 57-48 setback to Framingham State College in MASCAC action this afternoon.

Junior Jill Johnson (Mansfield, Mass./Mansfield) scored a team-high 13 points to lead the Framingham State to its ninth victory of the season. Johnson, who finished the game 3-of-7 from behind the arc, led a trio of Rams in double figures as junior Nicole McConaghy (Medford, Mass.) and freshman Kia Minor (Oak Bluffs, Mass.) chipped in ten points apiece. Sophomore Emily Clark (Melrose, Mass.) was also solid, nearly missing a double-double with eight points and a team-high nine boards.

Rogers led the Falcons as the junior guard collected a ten point, 11 rebound  effort. Sophomore Rebecca Goreham (Quincy, Mass./North Quincy) nearly gained her sixth double-double of the season with eight points and 11 boards, while junior Kim Duprey (Bernardston, Mass./Pioneer Valley) finished with nine points on three buckets from beyond the arc.

In a back and forth first half that saw four ties and four lead changes, the Rams opened up the largest lead of the frame, 23-18, with 4:21 remaining. The Falcons went on a 5-0 run sparked by junior forward Melissa Proffitt (Hubbardston, Mass./Quabbin Regional), who scored four of the five points, to even the game at 23-23, but with time expiring Johnson notched a steal and lay-up to give the Rams a two point lead at the break.

Leading by two (30-28) with 15:54 remaining, the Rams rattled off a 15-3 run capped by a three from Johnson to open up their largest lead of the game, 40-31, with 8:33 left. The Falcons responded with an 11-0 run of their own fueled by a trio of treys from Duprey to take a 42-40 advantage with 6:03 remaining. 

The Rams regrouped and after back-to-back threes from freshman Nicole Meyer (N. Attleboro, Mass./N. Attleboro) and a trifecta from Johnson to take a seven point advantage. Down the stretch, the Falcons were forced to foul, keeping the win insight as the Rams shot 2-of-7 from the line, but three offensive boards by Framingham sealed the conference victory.

Fitchburg State (9-10, 3-4 MASCAC) will be back in action on Tuesday as it hosts Rhode Island College at 5:30 p.m. Framingham State (9-8, 3-4 MASCAC) plays host to Bridgewater State College on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.

CLICK HERE FOR BOX SCORE & PLAY-BY-PLAY

Framingham State 57, Fitchburg State 48