Worcester State Rallies Past Fitchburg State, 67-61 (OT)

Goreham leads Falcons with seventh double-double of the season

WORCESTER, Mass. (February 9, 2010) - The Fitchburg State women's basketball team suffered a heart-breaking, 67-61 overtime setback to MASCAC rival Worcester State College this evening.

Worcester State rallied back from 13 points down (47-34), using a 21-8 run over the final 5:53 to force a five minute overtime. In the extra frame, the Lancers continued their hot offense, outscoring the Falcons 12-6 to clinch their seventh MASCAC victory of the season. Senior Reilly O'Keefe (Warren, Mass./Quaboag) paced the Lancers in the extra frame with seven total points, while Bri Flanders (Southampton, Mass./Hampshire) added four.

Worcester State opened the contest with an early lead, grabbing an 11 point advantage at the 7:27 mark of the first half. Fitchburg State answered quickly however, posting an 11-2 run to cut the Lancer lead to only two at the break. The Falcons used a balanced offensive attack throughout the first period as junior Molly Maloney (Taunton, Mass./Taunton), classmate Kim Duprey (Bernardston, Mass./Pioneer Valley) and sophomore Rebecca Goreham (Quincy, Mass./North Quincy) each tallied four points.

In the second half, Fitchburg State collected its first lead of the contest, opening the half with quick 6-0 run. The Falcons continued to pull ahead, mustering their largest lead of the half (13) with only 5:57 remaining, but the Lancers stood strong and battled back with some late game heroics.

Junior Katherine Foley (Hudson, Mass./Alvrine) ignited the Lancers late scoring surge,, nailing a  stifling three-pointer at the 3:09 mark to spark the Worcester State comeback. Worcester used a series of free-throws to close the scoring gap to only four, before Foley struck again from beyond the arc to knot the score at 55-55.

Fitchburg State junior Melissa Proffitt (Hubbardston, Mass./Quabbin Regional) led four Falcons in double-figures with 13 points and six rebounds, while Goreham notched her seventh double-double of the season with 12 points and 11 caroms. Junior Kelley Rogers (Lowell, Mass./Lowell) added 12 points and nine boards in the contest, while Maloney rounded out the Falcons' top four with 11.

Fitchburg State (9-13, 3-6 MASCAC) will be back in action on Saturday as it hosts Salem State College at 1 p.m. Worcester State (13-9, 7-3 MASCAC) will travel to Bridgewater State on Saturday at 4 p.m.

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Worcester State 67, Fitchburg State 61 (OT)