Worcester, MA --- Junior Kathleen Foley (Hudson, NH) poured in a career-best 19 points – including five from beyond the arc – to lead #4 Worcester State past fifth-seeded Fitchburg State in a 66-56 triumph this evening in the opening round of the MASCAC Women's Basketball Tournament.
The Lancers (13-13) will travel to top-seeded Westfield State on Thursday at 7 PM in the semifinal round. The Falcons end their season at 11-13.
WSU sophomore Meaghan O'Keefe (Warren, MA) tallied totals of 12 points, eight boards and four blocks while classmate Kara Rogers (Lowell, MA) chipped in with 13 points and three steals. Senior Alexis George (Worcester, MA) notched eight points and seven rebounds as junior Kaleigh Charette (Fairhaven, MA) dished out five assists.
Leading the way for Fitchburg State was senior Amy Fahey (Wilmington, MA) who netted 18 points as she was 6-for-8 from the field and a perfect 6-for-6 from the free throw line.
Senior Melissa Proffitt (Hubbardston, MA) also added 13 points and six caroms while senior Rebecca Goreham (Quincy, MA) came down with a game-best 11 rebounds to go along with three swipes.
Despite losing the contest, the Falcons led in virtually every category including total rebounds (45-38), offensive boards (20-9), points in the paint (36-14), second-chance points (16-10) and points in transition (19-17).
Worcester State was 10-for-20 from beyond the arch (7-for-13 in second half) due in large part to the hot shooting of Foley while O'Keefe and George combined for a pair of trey's each. Fitchburg State connected for just two of their 21 attempts from three-point land.
With the game knotted 24-24 at the intermission the Lancers went on a 7-0 run to open up the second period with a 31-24 advantage 90 seconds into the frame.
As the Blue and Gold led 37-32 with 14:41 on the clock, Fitchburg State responded and used a 9-2 spurt to take a 41-40 edge on the back of a senior Molly Maloney (Taunton, MA) three-pointer.
But their lead was short-lived as Worcester State scored six-straight points capped off by a lay-up from O'Keefe with 9:34 remaining (46-41).
Fitchburg State then scored on back-to-back baskets by Goreham and Proffitt before the Lancers would outscore the visitors 8-2 for a 54-47 cushion with 4:22 left.
Fahey would hit a lay-up for the Falcons to get within five, but then Worcester State opened up a double-digit lead on a conventional three-point play by Rogers and a shot from downtown by O'Keefe (60-50).
The Lancers would close out the game by canning six of their last eight shots from the charity stripe in the final 2:30 of play to seal the win and advance to the next round of the league play-offs.
Following four ties and three lead changes, Worcester State went ahead 16-12 midway through the opening stanza on four consecutive points on back-to-back jumpers by Foley and George.
No scoring would happen for the next five minutes of play in a defensive gridlock as the Lancers went up seven (19-12) on two free-throw shots by sophomore Gina Sicuso (Stoneham, MA) and Rogers.
The Falcons, however, would finish out the period strong with a 12-5 surge to close out the half. Jacobs and Fahey would team for 10 points in the run for FSU.
WSU is now 13-2 in the MASCAC Tournament at home since it started in the 1989-90 season and 4-2 against Fitchburg State.