MASCAC Women's Basketball Tournament Bracket

Worcester, MA --- Senior Julie Frankian (Millbury, MA) netted a game-best 24 points with six rebounds to help pace Worcester State to a 74-50 victory over Framingham State in MASCAC women's basketball action this afternoon at Quinsigamond Community College.

With the triumph, the Lancers (16-5, 7-5 MASCAC) earned the third-seed in next week's conference playoffs by virtue of holding the tie-breaker by sweeping the Rams during the regular-season. The Blue and Gold will face-off against sixth-seeded Salem State on Tuesday in a 7 PM tip-off at Clark in the MASCAC quarterfinals.

Framingham State dips to 15-8 and 7-5 in league play as they host #5 Fitchburg State on Tuesday at the same time in the other first-round matchup.

Senior Shannen El-Qasem (Rutland, MA) also pitched in for the hosts with 12 points, nine boards, four helpers and a trio of blocks while freshman Nani Perez (Worcester, MA/Holy Name) chipped in with 11 points and seven assists.

Senior Cheyenne Jennings (Worcester, MA/Wachusett) and classmate Kiesha Jones (Worcester, MA/Doherty) produced 10 and nine points, respectively.

Sophomore Alycia Rackliffe (Feeding Hills, MA) and freshman Casie Thurber (Springfield, MA/Sabis) both manufactured double-doubles. Rackliffe had a team-high 13 points with 10 rebounds while Thurber added 10 points with 10 caroms.

Sophomore Sarah Palace (Auburn, MA) had 10 points as she tag teamed with senior Johanna Annunziata (Auburn, MA) to finish handing out eight assists.

With 5:57 remaining in the opening half and the Lancers ahead 22-17 following a trifecta by Jones and a bucket by Jennings, the visitors utilized an 11-3 spurt to take over a 28-25 advantage with one minute left in the stanza. Palace sparked the run with a triple and Thurber converted consecuitve field goals to pace the Rams.

El-Qasem, however, helped the hosts close within one point of the lead at the intermission with the score 28-27 after she slipped behind the defense for a lay-up.  

Framingham State maintained the 29-22 edge early in the second on four quick points by senior Nicole Bostic (Easton, MA) before the Blue and Gold offense erupted and outscored their opponents 19-5 to balloon their advantage to 48-37 around the halfway point.

Frankian jacked three of her four treys in the surge for the hosts and sophomore Olivia Gardiner (Waltham, MA) ended the run with a three-pointer of her own.

The Rams never threatened again as the largest margin of the contest turned out to be the final score.

The Lancers connected for 40 percent even for the game (25-for-65), which included a 47 percent clip in the second stanza (15-for-32). The hosts also hit nine trifectas, but missed nine free throws (59 percent – 13-for-22).

WSU held leads in points in the paint (26-24), points off turnovers (14-8) and transition baskets (11-0) and bench scoring (17-6) while rebounding was even (43-43).

Framingham State struggled from the field overall finishing with a 29 percent effort (16-for-56) and the Rams only sank one of their 10 long distance tries beyond the arc. The visitors, however, did can 85 percent of their attempts at the charity stripe (17-for-20).

Frankian, Jennings, El-Qasem, Jones and classmate Kelli McPherson (Mansfield, MA) were recognized in a brief pre-game ceremony for playing in their final regular-season home game on "Senior Day".

Seniors Gather With Their Families At Quinsigamond Community College In Pre-game "Senior Day" Recognition Ceremony

(Left To Right) Lauren Burke, Meaghan Burns, WSU Head Coach Karen Tessmer, Kaleigh Charette And Rachel Odugbela, Hold The 1,000 Point Banner Officially Enshrining Burns Into The Club Apart Of Today's "Alumni Day" Festivities