Framingham, MA --- Sophomore Meaghan Burns (W. Brookfield, MA) tallied 13 points and five rebounds while junior Meghan O'Keefe (Warren, MA) corralled a season-best 12 rebounds as they helped lead Worcester State to a 44-40 triumph over Framingham State in the opening weekend of MASCAC play this afternoon.

With the win, the Lancers improve to 6-6 on the year and 1-0 in the MASCAC, while the Rams dip to 8-4 overall and 0-1 in the conference.

In a half that saw five ties and six lead changes, the Lancers took the frames largest lead, four points, midway through on an up and under move in the post by O'Keefe. The Rams closed the gap and tied the game at 21-21 on sophomore Kristen Hoffman's (Foxboro, MA) trifecta from the top of the circle with 1:26 on the clock. 

Hoffman led the Rams with six first half points on a pair of threes while O'Keefe and Burns led the Lancers with six first half points apiece.

FSU first-year Nicole Bostic (North Easton, MA) put the Rams ahead by three in the opening minutes of the second half with a three point play, but the Lancers responded with an 8-2 run capped by a Burns layup on the break to retake the advantage, 29-26, with 14:40 left in the game.

A Bostic three pointer and a pair of Hoffman free throws tied the game and put the Rams back in the lead 31-29 with 11:55 on the clock.

The score would remain 31-29 for the next 5:18 as both teams struggled shooting from the floor.  A freshman Shannen El-Qasem (Rutland, MA) layup with 6:35 on the clock broke the scoring drought for the Lancers and tied the game for the seventh and final time. Junior Madeleine Park (Blue Hill, ME) gave the Rams back the lead with a free throw at 6:07.

The Lancers answered with a 6-0 run fueled by five points from Burns to take the games largest advantage (38-32) and the lead for good. 

The Rams cut the Lancers lead down to three twice in the final two minutes, but were unable to get any closer as a El-Qasem put back put the Lancers back up five and they hit four from the line in the final minute to seal the win.

O'Keefe finished just shy of a double double with nine points and a game-high 12 rebounds as Burns did her damage on 5-of-11 shooting from the field.

Senior Kaleigh Charette (Fairhaven, MA) chipped in with eight points and eight caroms as she is now just 31 points away from the 1,000 mark for her career. Sophomore Kara Rogers (Lowell, MA) also swiped five of Worcester State's eight steals

The Rams were led by Park and Hoffman who finished with a team-best 10 points apiece.  Park added nine boards and two steals while Bostic finished with seven points and three assists.

Framingham State was limited to 26 percent from the field for the contest (14-for-53) and Worcester State connected for a modest line of 35 percent of their shots (17-for-48), but only hit one of their eight attempts from three point land (13 percent).

The Lancers struggled from the charity stripe as they were nine for 21 for the game (43 percent) and only hit five of 13 in the second half (39 percent). FSU was 57 percent (8-for-14).

Between the two teams there were 38 turnovers, but only 22 combined points off of miscues as the Rams had the 14-8 edge. Worcester State led in rebounds (47-35), offensive boards (16-12) and points in the paint (28-16).

The Rams return to action on Tuesday evening at 5:30 PM at Bridgewater State while the Lancers host Westfield State on Tuesday at 6.

Major Portions of Release Courtesy of Framingham State Sports Information