Falcons Upended By Bison, 102-78

Fitchburg, Mass. – The Fitchburg State University Women's Basketball team suffered a tough 102-78 setback to the Bison of Nichols College in non-conference action this afternoon at the Nichols College Athletic Center.

 The Basics

Score: Fitchburg State 78, Nichols 103

Records: Fitchburg State (1-5, 0-0 MASCAC) I Nichols (4-2, 0-0 CCC)

How It Happened

1st quarter

Nichols opened the contest with a 10-0 run, capped by a Hadley Houghton (Madison, Conn.) jumper before Fitchburg State answered as sophomore Olivia Almeida (Wilmington, Mass.) knocked down a three ball. The Bison upped its margin to 22-5 after Houghton connected on a jumper, but the Falcons cut into the deficit as junior Lindsay McDonald (Stoughton, Mass.) and freshman Rylie Harlow (Hanson, Mass.) hit buckets to make the score 27-9.

2nd quarter

Harlow and McDonald would register baskets for the Green and Gold in the second quarter (31-13), but Nichols would take a 36-15 edge as Jillian Spillane (Paxton, Mass.) added a jumper. Fitchburg State responded with back-to-back layups by freshman Stephanie Hart (Shirley, Mass.) before the host took a 57-34 lead into the break on a Spillane layup.

3rd quarter

Following the intermission, Nichols pushed its lead to 64-36 as sophomore Summer Klein (Stamford, Conn.) sank a three-pointer before senior Jadelen Harold (Nantucket, Mass.) netted a pair of hoops for Fitchburg State (65-41). Harold would notch another two buckets for the visitors to cut the lead to 68-46, but a Klein layup upped the Bison lead to 85-56.

 4th quarter

The Falcons continued to battle with Harlow netting seven straight points, while Harold added a bucket to reduce the lead to 89-65. After a Sariah Dyer (Raynham, Mass.) layup made the score 93-71, Nichols secured the victory as Amanda Donoghue (Plymouth, Mass.) hit a layup, resulting in the 102-78 final.

Inside the Numbers

• Falcons were paced by Harold with a double-double of 20 points and 21 caroms to go along with three assists
• Hart added a double-double of 17 points and 12 boards as well as four assists
• Harlow was also solid for the Green and Gold, finishing with 11 points, seven assists, one block and two steals
• For the Bison, Klein registered a game-best 24 points, nine rebounds, four assists and five steals
• Sophomore Abrianna Vazquez (Dedham, Mass.) chipped in with 22 points, one carom, seven assists and nine steals
• 29th meeting between the two teams on the basketball court with the Falcons 15-14 all-time when taking on the Bison
• Fitchburg State shot 30-for-73 (41.1%) from the field and (2-of-10) 20.0% from downtown
• Nichols went 40-of-96 (41.7%) overall and (9-for-34) 26.5% for beyond the arc
• Falcons held a 68-41 edge on the glass

Up Next

Falcons return to action on Tuesday as they host the Rams of Suffolk University for a non-conference tilt, starting at 5:00 PM.