Fitchburg State Falls To Amherst, 72-59

Rogers leads Falcons with 14 points and seven rebounds

AMHERST, Mass. (November 16, 2008) - The Fitchburg State women's basketball team suffered its first loss of the young 2008-09 season, falling to Amherst College, 72-59 in the championship match of the inaugural Amherst College Tip-Off Tournament this weekend.

Sophomore Kelley Rogers (Lowell, Mass./Lowell) and senior Stephanie Payette (Townsend, Mass./North Middlesex) led the Fitchburg State charge with 14 points apiece, while sophomore Melissa Proffitt (Hubbardston, Mass./Quabbin Regional) added eight points, eight rebounds and two steals.

Amherst sophomore Kristyn Dunleavy (East Setauket, N.Y./Stony Brook) led all scorers with a game-high 20 points, while classmate Jaci Daigneault (Guilford, Conn./Guilford)  was close behind with 19. Sophomore Sarah Leyman (Cincinnati, Ohio/Seven Hills Upper School) had a game-high 10 rebounds for the Jeffs.

Amherst took an early 6-0 lead and never looked back, jumping out to an early 35-21 lead at the half. Daigneault was the high scorer with 14 points at the break on 6-of-9 shooting, while Leyman pulled down nine first-half rebounds.

Early in the second half, junior Krystle O'Brien (Malden, Mass./Malden) brought the Falcons within ten as she hit her second three of the game, but Daigneault responded for the Jeffs with her second triple of the night to put Amherst ahead, 41-29. The Amherst lead grew as large as 15 points at 46-31 before the Falcons put together a scoring run to close the margin to 46-43. Amherst responded as first-year Kim Fiorentino (Holmdel, N.J./Holmdel) nailed a three from the right wing to silence the Fitchburg State comeback.

Fitchburg State (1-1, 0-0 MASCAC) will be in action again Saturday as it participates in the Williams College Tournament at 6 p.m. Amherst (2-0, 0-0 NESCAC) will host Pine Manor College on Tuesday November 22 at 6 p.m.

2008 Amherst Tip-Off All-Tournament Team
Jaci Daigneault (Amherst) - MVP
Kristyn Dunleavy (Amherst)
Kelley Rogers (Fitchburg State)
Melissa Proffitt (Fitchburg State)
Whitney Coleman (RPI)
Tempest Casey (NYCCT)

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Amherst 72, Fitchburg State 59