Worcester, MA --- Framingham State freshman Carlee Putnam (Niantic, CT) netted a game-best 20 points off the bench to help ignite the Rams offense and defeat Worcester State, 65-51, in MASCAC women's basketball action this evening at The College of the Holy Cross' Hart Center.
Framingham State evens their record at 9-9 with the win as the Lancers fall to 7-11 overall with the defeat. Both squads now hold identical 3-3 records in conference play putting them in a three-way tie for fourth place with Salem State halfway through the MASCAC season.
The Rams were also paced on offense by freshman classmates Alycia Rackliffe (Feeding Hills, MA) who totaled 15 points and nine boards and Sarah Palace (Auburn, MA) added 11 points for the visitors.
Senior Kristen Hoffman (Foxboro, MA) turned in an all-around solid effort for Framingham State scoring nine points, grabbing 11 rebounds, and dishing out three assists to go with a pair of steals and a trio of blocked shots.
Worcester State was led on offense by sophomore Cheyenne Jennings (Worcester, MA) who registered a career-high 17 points and added six helpers while senior Meaghan Burns (W. Brookfield, MA) chipped in with 12 points.
Sophomore Julie Frankian (Millbury, MA) grabbed a game-best 12 rebounds and added seven points for the hosts.
After a pair of jumpers by Burns gave the Lancers an early 4-0 edge, Framingham State went on an 11-0 run to grab the 11-4 lead.
Hoffman scored eight points during the surge including dialing one in from long range before adding a traditional three-point play to close out the spurt at the 13:45 mark of the opening half.
Trailing by seven with 9:20 to play before halftime Worcester State outscored their opponents 17-4, and snatched the six point lead at 25-19 heading into the locker room.
Back-to-back three point buckets started the run first from Jennings before junior Kelli McPherson (Mansfield, MA) added one of her own at the 8:37 mark.
Jennings added four consecutive free throws and then McPherson struck again from behind the line at the 3:51 mark for a 23-16 lead. Jennings then added the last bucket of the opening stanza as she converted a lay-up with 1:23 remaining.
Framingham State came out of the locker room fired up and after Burns netted a jumper, the Rams embarked on an 11-2 run to take a 30-29 edge at the 13:45 mark. The buldge included a pair of traditional three-point plays from Palace and Rackliffe and culminated with a pair of free throws from Rackliffe.
The next six and half minutes of play was back-and-fourth as the skein generated four more ties and four lead changes before Framingham State took the lead for good after a jumper from sophomore Kerry Coyne (N. Attleboro, MA) with 7:51 remaining in regulation gave the Rams a 44-42 advantage.
FSU garnered their largest margin of the second half at 60-46 after Putnam sank a lay-up with 2:36 left on the clock.
McPherson followed with a trey at the 1:45 mark cutting the advantage to 60-49, however, Framingham State connected on their free throws down the stretch to seal the victory.
Framingham State shot 37 percent from the field (22-for-59) while WSU shot 32 percent (19-for-59).
The Rams also led in rebounds (40-36), points in the paint (28-14), points off turnovers (18-10), second chance points (9-2) and dominated in bench scoring (41-6). The Lancers held the slim edge in fast break buckets (16-10) and made all of their attempts from the charity strip (9-for-9).
Worcester State heads to Suffolk on Thursday in a 7 PM matchup while Framingham State hosts Westfield State on Saturday at 1 o'clock.
Story By John Hanna --- Sports Information Graduate Assistant