Fitchburg State Rebounds Over Williams, 91-83

Fitchburg State Rebounds Over Williams, 91-83
Payette connects for 26 points in Falcons second victory of the season

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. (November 23, 2008) - The Fitchburg State women's basketball team avenged a first round loss of the Williams Tip-Off Classic, posting a 91-83 victory over Williams College in Chandler Gymnasium this afternoon.

Fitchburg State senior Stephanie Payette (Townsend, Mass./North Middlesex) led all scorers with a game-high 26 points and 13 rebounds. Payette led the Falcons with a 10-for-15 shooting performance, while hitting 6-of-8 from the free-throw stripe. Junior Krystle O'Brien (Malden, Mass./Malden) added 21 points and five steals for the Falcons, while sophomore Kelley Rogers (Lowell, Mass./Lowell) connected for 17.

Senior Mika Peterman (Los Altos, Calif.) led the Williams attack with a team-high 25 points and five assists, while sophomore Chessie Jackson (Goleta, Calif.) and freshman Jill Greenberg (Westwood, Mass.) combined for a 35 point surge and 16 rebounds to aid the Ephs.

Both teams played evenly in the first half, battling to a 48-48 draw at the break. Payette and O'Brien led the Falcon charge combining for 29 points on 12-of-17 shooting. Payette notched 16 points in the first frame, while O'Brien registered 13. Jackson and Greenberg led the Ephs in the first period, totaling 13 and 11 points respectively.

In the second period, Fitchburg State took a quick four point lead as junior Michelle Ridge (Milton, Mass./Milton) nailed a three pointer to cap a Falcon 4-0 run. The Falcons took a six point advantage moments later on two good free throws by O'Brien, but the Ephs battled back to tie the game at 74-74 with 4:42 remaining in the contest.

Fitchburg State put the game away over the final four minutes of the match, stringing together a 16-6 run to secure its second victory of the season. Rogers led the scoring surge with six points while O'Brien netted five.

Fitchburg State (2-2, 0-0 MASCAC) will be in action again on Tuesday as it hosts UMass Boston at 5:30 p.m. Williams (1-2, 0-0 NESCAC) will travel to Springfield College on Tuesday 7:30 p.m.

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Fitchburg State 91, Williams 83