N. Adams, MA --- Senior Meaghan Burns (W. Brookfield, MA) finished with 16 points, nine boards and a trio of assists as she helped lead Worcester State to a 59-48 triumph over MCLA in MASCAC women's basketball action this evening.

With the win, the Lancers improve to 8-12 and 4-3 to start off the second-half of their conference round-robin slate while the Trailblazers fall to 4-16 and 0-8 in league play.

Junior Julie Frankian (Millbury, MA) was also in double-figure scoring with 12 points and nine rebounds as classmate Kelli McPherson (Mansfield, MA) chipped in with 10 points.

Freshman Kayla Hotaling (Ravena, NY) led all players with 17 points and 10 caroms for her third double-double of the campaign. Classmate Courtney McLaughlin (Pittsfield, MA) added 13 points and four steals off the bench for the hosts.

Leading 12-10 midway through the opening stanza, the Lancers used a 12-4 run to open up a 24-14 contest with 5:00 left on the clock before settling for the 29-17 advantage at the intermission. Burns and Frankian combined for eight points in the surge for the visitors.

MCLA never threatened as the visitors maintained their double-digit margin the rest of the way.

WSU was ahead 41-25 following consecutive free throws by Frankian with 13:18 remaining and 58-43 after the third trifecta of the contest by McPherson in the closing minute.

The Lancers dominated the backboards (54-36), the offensive glass (19-9), second chance points (13-2) and buckets inside the key (18-12).

Worcester State finished shooting 32 percent for the contest (19-for-60) – including a 33 percent line in the second period (9-for-27). The Blue and Gold, however, produced 11 points at the charity stripe.

MCLA only drained two of their 15 attempts from beyond the arch, but led in bench scoring 17-11. The Trailblazers also outscored their opponents 31-30 in the second period.

The hosts were only 23 percent from the floor in the opening half (6-for-26) and made 38 percent of their tries in the final stanza (11-for-29).

Both squads will play again on Saturday at 1 PM. Worcester State hosts Salem State as a part of their annual alumni day celebration while MCLA travels east to play Fitchburg State.

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