January 27, 2016

Fitchburg State Doubled Up by Visiting Framingham State, 88-44

FITCHBURG, Mass. – The Fitchburg State University women's basketball team dropped a head-to-head with conference rival Framingham State by the final score of 88-44 tonight at the Parkinson Gymnasium in the Rec Center.

Junior guard Shabeli Villa matched her season best set just one game ago - dropping 16 points by going 7-of-12 from the field during her team's league setback.

For Framingham State sophomore Raegan Mulherin played 31 minutes while scoring a game-high 21 points and dishing out six assists to lead the Rams to their third-straight conference victory.

The visitors opened the game scoring on back-to-back possessions before sophomore forward Michaela McTomney grabbed the first points for the Falcons on an inside drive to the hoop.

The Rams proceeded to take a 24-3 lead, picking up a combined 13 points from classmates Quinn O' Connell and Mulherin during an eight-minute, 20-1 scoring drive lasting the remainder of the first quarter.

With 8:09 remaining in the first half junior guard Villa nailed her first triple of the game and on the next possession hit her second field goal of the game to spark a 9-4 run in the host's favor aided by four points from sophomore Melissa Guglielmello.

The Green and Gold continued to battle back from the first-half deficit when freshman guard Hannah Keohan knocked down her first basket of the game in the closing minute, ending the second quarter still trailing the Rams 41-18.

Framingham State opened the second half with a 14-9 run pushing its lead up to 30 as Mulherin scored nine quick points off of three-consecutive shots from beyond the arc for the Rams.

Fitchburg State turned in another 15-point effort in the third frame, with five separate players contributing for the Falcons by the end the third.

The Rams went on to control the fourth quarter, outscoring the hosts 22-11 during the final 10 minutes as Villa contributed six points in the final stanza before having time expire with the final 88-44.

The teams were dead-even in the rebounding game as each squad corralled 45 boards; Fitchburg led on the defensive glass, 32-25, and Framingham was most effective on the offensive glass, edging the Falcons, 20-13.

Framingham outplayed Fitchburg in the hustle stats as the Rams picked up 36 points off turnovers and added 19 points via second-chance opportunities.

The Green and Gold finished the contest 17-of-52 from the field (42.9%) knocking down their free throws at an 8-of-15 clip (53.3%). Framingham State was 36-of-84 in shots (42.9%) knocking down 12-of-21 from the charity stripe (57.1%)

Both teams return to MASCAC action on Saturday at 1:00 p.m., with Fitchburg State (0-18, 0-6 MASCAC) traveling to Westfield State and Framingham State (13-5, 5-1 MASCAC) hosting Salem State.

Recap courtesy of Fitchburg State student journalist Kyle Prudhomme