Anna Maria Downs Fitchburg State, 77-71

Four Falcons net double-figures in first contest of the new year 

PAXTON, Mass. (January 4, 2013) – Behind a career-high 22 points from freshman Cristina Gauvin (Dudley, Mass.) the Anna Maria college women's basketball team defeated Fitchburg State University, 77-71 in non-conference action at Fuller Activities Center on a cold Saturday afternoon.

With the win the AMCATS improve to 6-7 while the Falcons dip to 4-5. 

Gauvin was a spectacular 8-for-12 from the floor including 4-for-6 from behind the arc and a perfect 2-for-2 from the charity stripe for her career day while teammate Trafficia Warburton (Worcester, Mass.) added 20 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists and 6 steals. Senior Taylor Walker (Winchendon, Mass.) notched 17 points on 7-for-9 shooting and freshman Deja Taitt (Jamaica, NY) dished out nine assists.

Four of the Falcons' starting five were in double-figures. Junior guard Laura Cote (Ashby, Mass.) led the way with a team-high 20 points while senior Amy Fahey (Wilmington, Mass.) posted 15 points. Junior Britney Payne (Franklin, KY) scored the games only double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds.

Trailing 17-11 with 12:39 remaining in the opening half, the AMCATS used a 10-4 run to tie the game 21-21 at the 7:48 mark. Gauvin would hit her first free-throw to even the game and hit the backend of the pair to give Anna Maria the lead they would never relinquish. 

The AMCATS would close out the half outscoring the Falcons 17-2 to build a 39-23 advantage. Warburton would deliver six points in the run and Gauvin would hit a trifecta with seconds remaining heading into the locker room. 

Anna Maria would open the second half with back-to-back baskets by Walker and Taitt to make it a 43-26 game, however the Falcons would respond with an 11-0 spurt capped by a Megan Wodzinski (Littleton, Mass.) mid-range jumper to cut the deficit to six, 43-37. Freshman Antoinette Jean-Louis (Avon, Mass.) would notch a free-throw to propel the AMCATS to a 6-0 run and push the score to 49-37 and force a Fitchburg State timeout with 14:01 to play. 

Anna Maria would build their largest lead of the game 73-52 off a Taitt jumper with 4:53 showing on the scoreboard. The Falcons would make one more run at the AMCATS, reeling off a 17-2 run to cut the score to 75-69 and a two possession game with 21 seconds to play. Anna Maria would convert from the free-throw line down the stretch to seal the victory.

Anna Maria will return to action next Saturday when they will begin GNAC conference play. Fitchburg State will visit Salem State University on Thursday at 5:30 p.m.