Fitchburg State Pulls Away From MCLA, 71-63

Fahey secures Falcons playoff berth with a game-high 21 points

FITCHBURG, Mass. (February 12, 2013) – The Fitchburg State women's basketball team pulled away late in defeating the Trailblazers of MCLA, 71-63 this evening in MASCAC action at the Recreation Center. 

With the win, the Falcons improve to 9-12 overall and 3-7 in conference play, while MCLA drops to 8-16 overall, including a 0-11 mark in the MASCAC.

Senior Amy Fahey (Wilmington, Mass./Wilmington) led the Fitchburg State offensive attack with a game high 21 points, including 19 in the second half, to go with eight rebounds and four assists. Senior Kelsey Johnston (Shirley, Mass./Saint Bernards) was also strong, chipping in with a near double of 12 points and nine boards for the victors.

Senior Lucy Tremblay (E. Greenbush, N.Y./Columbia) scored 20 points to lead MCLA on 8-19 shooting, while junior Kaitlyn Chenevert (Uxbridge, Mass./Uxbridge) was the only other Trailblazer in double figures finishing with 12 points.

The Falcons used an 8-2 run to close out the first half en route to a 31-25 halftime lead.  The Trailblazers scored two quick buckets out of the locker room to pull within two at 31-29, but that was as close as they would get.

Fitchburg State would outscore MCLA 9-2 over the next three minutes to push out to a 40-31 edge with 16:11 remaining following a Tori Cyrus (Everett, Mass./Everett) jumper.  After MCLA trimmed the margin to 41-35, the Falcons used a Rebecca Fluet (Fitchburg, Mass./Fitchburg) layup and a Fahey turnaround jumper to move out to a ten point edge at 45-35. 

Later on with Fitchburg still holding a ten point lead at 54-44, MCLA would make one last run at the Falcons. Tremblay and Chenevert converted jumpers to pull within six at 54-48 but the Falcons responded as Fahey and Laura Cote (Ashby, Mass./Saint Bernards) made baskets around another Chenevert jumper to pull ahead 58-50 with 7:20 left.

MCLA came within four (60-56) on another Tremblay drive with under four minutes to play but Fahey then canned two at the charity stripe to push the Falcons lead to six.  Chenevert once again pulled MCLA within four at 64-60, however the Trailblazers would go cold missing three straight shots on the same possession with under two minutes to play. 

Fitchburg State will be in action again on Thursday as it hosts Salem State at 5:30 p.m. MCLA will entertain Bridgewater State on Saturday at 1pm.