February 13, 2016
Fitchburg State Defeated by MCLA, 77-30
FITCHBURG, Mass. - MCLA scored 48 second-half points to propel them past Fitchburg State University, 77-30, in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) women's basketball action this afternoon at the Parkinson Gymnasium in the Rec Center of Fitchburg State.
Junior forward Courtney McLaughlin scored a game-high 18 points for MCLA with teammates Mckenzie Robinson and L'Rae Brundige picking up 13 and 10 respectively from the starting lineup. Freshman guard Courtney Pingelski contributed a bench-high 16 points during the victory.
For Fitchburg State, Michaela McTomney ended the contest with nine points and nine rebounds with Shabeli Villa and Stephanie Leveillee each adding five points.
Action opened with the Trailblazers controlling the opening tip-off, but it would be the Falcons on the board first as junior forward Fiona Sugrue foundMcTomney in the paint to give the hosts the lead before junior guard McLaughlin scored five sparking a 10-0 run for MCLA.
The two teams went on to match baskets over the last five minutes of the first quarter, highlighted by an open-three from Fitchburg State junior guard Villa, with MCLA out in front as time expired (17-9).
MCLA opened the second with an 8-3 scoring run building on its lead before junior forward Leveillee knocked down four-consecutive from the charity stripe to swing the run in the Falcons direction 7-3 before closing the second trailing by 10 (29-19).
Following intermission, the Trailblazers came out of the locker room re-energized, scoring eight points in the first minute of the third before going on a 23-8 scoring drive, with freshman guard Robinson picking up seven points for MCLA, pushing the lead up to 25 points to close out the quarter (52-27).
In the final quarter, the visitors controlled the pace of play nailing four shots from beyond the arc and riding a 23-3 scoring run. McTomney picked up the three points for Fitchburg State.
Throughout the contest, MCLA would shoot 29-of-71 (40.8%) from the field while making nearly half of its shots from three at 11-of-23 from deep (47.8%). Fitchburg State ended 7-of-41 (17.1%) from the floor while making just one triple in the loss.
The Trailblazers had a slight rebounding advantage in their conference win, besting the Falcons 45-41 on the glass and winning the offensive rebounding battle, 18-15.
MCLA also controlled the hustle states throughout the game, converting 38 points from turnovers, 10 points off second-chance baskets, and 28 points from off of the bench.
MCLA (12-11, 4-7 MASCAC) hosts Norwich Tuesday February 16th for a non-conference bout to start at 5:30.
Fitchburg State (0-23, 0-10 MASCAC) returns to its home court on Wednesday, February 17th for a 5:30 tip-off against Salem State.
Release courtesy of Fitchburg State student journalist Kyle Prudhomme