Falcons Defeated By Lions, 57-40 In Season Opener

Quincy, Mass. – The Fitchburg State Women's Basketball team opened its 2019-20 campaign this afternoon, dropping a 57-40 decision to the Lions of Eastern Nazarene College in non-conference action from the Lahue Physical Education Center.

 The Basics

Score: Fitchburg State 40, Eastern Nazarene 57
Records: Fitchburg State (0-1) | Eastern Nazarene (1-0)

How It Happened

1st quarter

Fitchburg State opened the contest with a 5-3 edge on a jumper from senior Angelina Marazzi (Manchester, N.H.) and a trey by classmate Emma Thomson (York, Maine) before Eastern Nazarene answered with an and one from senior Kyra Fleharty (Lewiston, Mont.) for the 6-5 margin. Marazzi cut the deficit to 8-7 with jumper, but junior Janeth Cruz (Reseda, Calif.) connected on a bucket for the Lions for the 10-7 lead after one.

2nd quarter

Marazzi started the scoring for the Green and Gold in the second quarter with a basket (10-9), while senior Courtney Barba (Pismo Beach, Calif.) responded on the other end with a layup to up the lead for the host to 12-9. Eastern Nazarene closed out the half with an 11-0 run, capped by a Sydni Ovett (Pruitt Heights, Utah) layup for the 27-14 advantage going into the break.

3rd quarter

Following the intermission, the Lions upped their lead (29-14) on a basket by junior Stevie Orton (Gilford, N.H.). Fitchburg State chipped the lead to 20-29 on a free-throw from senior Catherine Coppinger (Boston, Mass.), but junior Nahatabee Nacona (Chinie, Ariz.) knocked down a three-ball for Eastern Nazarene for the 38-24 margin going into the fourth quarter.

 4th quarter

The Falcons continued to battle as Coppinger, Marazzi and freshman Lindsay McDonald (Stoughton, Mass.) connected on buckets to cut the lead to 50-32 before Seniesha Sekaquaptewa (Second Mesa, Ariz.) sank a pair of free-throws for the Lions, resulting in the 57-40 final.

Inside the Numbers

• Falcons were led by Marazzi with a game-best 19 points and five stealls
• Coppinger and junior Payton Holmes (Carver, Mass.) added six points each for the Green and Gold
• For the Lions, Fleharty finished with a team-leading eight points and three boards
• Orton chipped in with eight points and four caroms for Eastern Nazarene
• Seventh meeting between two schools with Falcons 3-4 all-time vs the Lions
• Fitchburg State shot 12--for-43 (27.9%) from the field and (1-for-11) 9.1% from three point range
• Eastern Nazarene finished 18-of-44 (40.9%) overall and (4-for-12) 33.3% for beyond the arc
• Lions held a slim 36-30 margin on the glass

Up Next

Falcons return to action on Wednesday as they travel to Clark University to take on the Cougars for a non-conference tilt, starting at 7:00 PM. Lions will take on the Rams of Framingham State on Friday at the 2019 Brandeis Tip-Off Tournament at 7:00 PM.