Fitchburg State Slips Past Framingham State, 75-74

Fahey and Cote combine for 41 points in Falcons second conference victory

FITCHBURG, Mass. (January 11, 2014) – The Fitchburg State women's basketball team played host to the Rams of Framingham State University this afternoon and held on to post its second conference victory of the season, 75-74 on the Recreation Center.

With the victory, Fitchburg State improves to 6-5 overall and 2-0 in the MASCAC, while Framingham State falls to 6-7 on the season and 0-2 in the conference.

Senior Amy Fahey (Wilmington, Mass.) led the Fitchburg State offense with a team-best 21 points, eight rebounds, five assists and four steals. With 21 points, Fahey now moves into second on the program's all-time scoring list and remains just 61 points shy of becoming the program's all-time scoring leader.

Junior Laura Cote (Ashby, Mass.) followed closely with 20 points on 7-of-14 shooting from the field, while junior Britney Payne (Franklin, Ky.) and senior Kristen Enright (Westminster, Mass.) both added eight points apiece.

For the Rams, senior Kristen Hoffman (Foxboro, Mass.) was stellar offensively, posting a game-high 24 points with a 5-of-8 performance beyond the arc. Junior Margo McCarthy (Southampton, Mass.) was also solid with 14 points and seven caroms, while freshman Alycia Rackliffe (Feeding Hills, Mass.) chipped in with 12 points.

In the first half, Framingham State entered the locker room with a one point advantage (36-35), using a 14 point effort from Hoffman. The Falcons crawled back from a nine point deficit late in the half (36-27), stringing together eight consecutive points to close the half. Payne led the Falcon rally with a pair of steals and five points (six in the half), while Fahey led all Falcon scorers with 13 points on 6-of-8 shooting.

In the second half, Fitchburg State swung the momentum in its favor, opening a seven point advantage (53-46) by the 13:39 mark. The Falcons continued to soar, posting an 11 point margin (67-56) with a Fahey lay-up at the 6:22 mark, but the Rams battled back with a 12-2 run to close within one at 69-68.

Down the stretch, both team traded baskets with Rackliffe and Enright scoring hoops for each squad, but Framingham State knotted the score moments later, 71-71 with a free-throw by Hoffman. On their next possession, the Falcons grabbed a two point advantage as junior Rebecca Fluet (Fitchburg, Mass.) sank a pair of free-throw and moments later Tori Cyrus (Everett, Mass.) sealed the contest with another set of free-throws.

The Rams hit a last second three to close within one (75-74), but that's as close as the visitor would come as time expired.