#8 Tufts Shuts Down Fitchburg State, 73-56

Fahey and Payne lead Falcons with 26 combined points

MEDFORD, Mass. (December 5, 2013) – Junior Hayley Kanner recorded 13 points, seven rebounds, seven blocks, three assists and three steals for an impressive performance that led the #8 Tufts women's basketball team to a 73-56 victory over Fitchburg State Thursday night at Cousens Gym.

The win was the seventh straight to start the season for Tufts (7-0), which was led in scoring by sophomore Emma Roberson's 14 points. Junior Hannah Foley chipped in 10 points with eight rebounds for the Jumbos.

Fitchburg fell to 3-3 with the loss. Senior Amy Fahey (Wilmington, Mass.) tied for the game high with 14 points, shooting 6 for 11 and adding five rebounds. Junior Brittney Payne (Franklin, Ky.) finished with 12 points and three steals for the Falcons.

Tufts senior Liz Moynihan drained a straight-on three at the halftime buzzer to lift Tufts to a 15-point margin (40-25) at intermission. The Jumbos spread the scoring around in the first half with eight from Roberson and Kanner and seven by Foley.

The Jumbos had an early 11-4 lead sparked by four points from Kanner. However, Fitchburg was able to keep it close and was within five at 19-14 following Payne's jumper at the eight-minute mark. It was 29-21 Tufts with four minutes to go until intermission when the hosts closed the period with an 11-4 stretch capped by Moynihan's three.

Fahey's 10 points for Fitchburg was the game-high at the break. The Falcons shot a strong 45.8 percent (11/24) in the first half, but were dominated on the glass. Tufts finished the first half up 22-12 in rebounds including 15 at the offensive end leading to 17 second-chance points. Four of Moynihan's six first-half rebounds were at the offensive end and Foley had three offensive and five total at the half.

Tufts maintained a comfortable margin in the second half. The Falcons were within 15 (42-27) following Payne's jumper at the 16:43 mark. Threes by Moynihan and Foley helped Tufts score eight of the next nine points to push their advantage to 22 at 50-28 with 14:53 on the clock.

The Jumbo lead peaked at 25 twice, including on Roberson's lay-up at 8:31 for a 59-34 score. The Falcons did put on a late charge, going on a 13-3 run that closed the margin to 66-52 with 2:30 remaining. Laura Cote (Ashby, Mass.) scored five points and Tori Cyrus (Everett, Mass.) had four during the Falcon stretch.

After a basket by Tufts' Michelle Wu, two free throws by Fahey had the margin at 14 again (68-54) just under the two-minute mark. The Jumbos closed out the victory by scoring the next five points including a three-pointer by Caitlin McClure entering the final minute.

Moynihan added eight points, six rebounds and three assists to the Tufts win. The Jumbos finished with 25 offensive rebounds, led by Kanner's six. They won the battle of the boards 43-37 overall. Tufts had 16 steals on 23 Falcon turnovers. Kanner is now averaging 3.3 blocks per game.

Cote had eight points, four rebounds and two steals for the Falcons, while Rebecca Fluet (Fitchburg, Mass.) finished with six points, four rebounds and two steals.