Worcester, MA --- Sophomore Julie Frankian (Millbury, MA) tallied 14 points and classmate Cheyenne Jennings (Worcester, MA/Wachusett) registered 13 as they both helped pace Worcester State to a 69-50 victory over the University of St. Joseph (CT) this evening in non-conference women's basketball action at WPI's Harrington Auditorium.
The Lancers (3-3) were also propelled by senior Meaghan Burns (W. Brookfield, MA) who notched nine points and a game-best eight boards and classmate Emily Barrett (Dracut, MA) chipped in with eight points on a 4-for-4 effort from the field.
Junior Shannen El-Qasem (Rutland, MA) also added six points and she gobbed up six rebounds. Sophomore Kelli McPherson (Mansfield, MA), Frankian and Jennings combined for 10 of the squads 15 helpers.
Junior Brianna Ferraro (Waterbury, CT) led the Blue Jays (3-3) with a contest-high 17 points on a 7-for-12 line from the field and four swipes. Senior Devon Diliberto (Waterbury, CT) also finished with 13 points and led the squad with seven boards.
St. Joseph originally held the 14-4 lead four minutes into the contest before Worcester State trimmed the deficit to just one point on a 10-1 spurt with 12:10 left in the first period (15-14).
The Blue Jays maintained their margin at five points twice with under ten minutes to play which included a 23-18 advantage with 3:44 remaining in the frame.
But the Lancers finished off the opening stanza with a 9-2 run which was finished off by a Frankian old fashioned three-point play for the 27-25 edge at the intermission.
On the third tie of the game with 14:38 in the second half, Worcester State took the lead for good on another three-point play by Frankian.
The Blue and Gold continued to nurse the five-point margin around the midway point (42-37), but pulled away with a 13-6 surge for the 58-43 lead on the back of two three pointers by Jennings with 4:46 on the clock.
The Blue Jays never threatened as the Lancers cruised ahead for their third win of the campaign.
Worcester State dominated the backboards (41-30), points in the paint (28-18), second-chance points (12-8) and bench scoring (21-8). WSU also made nearly half of their shots from the field (30-for-63 – 48 percent).
Both squads will play non-conference opponents after the Thanksgiving break. St. Joseph takes on Wesleyan at Sunday at 2 PM before the Lancers travel to Trinity for a 7 o'clock matchup on Tuesday.