Framingham, Mass. – The top-seeded Framingham State women's basketball team outscored Bridgewater State 22-9 in the fourth quarter en route to a 74-62 win to claim the 2024 MASCAC Championship in front of a standing room only crowd at Logan Gymnasium. The Rams capture their third title in four seasons and earn the MASCAC's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. 

Rams senior forward Flannery O'Connor was named the MASCAC Tournament MVP after earning a double-double in the title game. O'Connor scored 18 points with a game-high 14 rebounds going 5-for-6 from the field and 8-for-10 from the line for the Rams.  

THE BASICS: 

- Score: Framingham State 74, Bridgewater State 62 

- Records: Framingham State (24-2), Bridgewater State (15-12) 

- Location:  Logan Gymnasium – Framingham, Mass. 

HOW IT HAPPENED: 

• The Bears came out with an early 8-2 lead but the Rams chipped away with a Kelsey Yelle jumper around the midway point of the first quarter to tie the game back at eight. 
• The advantage went back and forth for most of the next ten minutes of play before the visitors again took a two possession advantage 25-20 in the second. This sparked a 9-0 run highlighted by a Gwendolyn Carpenter layup and three pointer to put the Rams up 29-25.  
• The Bears answered again with the two team headed to the break with Bridgewater holding a 31-29 edge. 
• The back-and-forth affair which saw 14 ties and 13 lead changes continued with neither side taking substantial advantage until midway through the fourth.  
• With the game tied at 61 with 5:53 to play the Rams sharpshooter Chloe Rayko drained a triple to give the Rams the advantage they would never relinquish.  
• After stops on both ends, the Rams forced a turnover and O'Connor was sent to the line. She made the first and after another couple failed attempts on each side O'Connor again layed one in off a great pass from Gwendolyn Carpenter to stretch the Rams lead to 67-61.  
• Carpenter would make her four free throws and find a wide open O'Connor under the net to put the game away in the final minutes. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS: 

• Kelsey Yelle led all scorers with 21 going 9-of-15 from the floor picking up eight boards and two rejections. In addition to the double-double by O'Connor, Carpenter picked up a double-double with 13 points and eleven assists adding eight rebounds.  
• Katherine Haselton added 11 points and Rayko scored nine going six-for-six from the line. 
• For the Bears Sydney Bradbury led the way with 18 points and Arielle Cleveland scored 16 points with a team best seven rebounds. Jessica D'Amours added 12 points and Kylie Grassi chipped in 10. 

UP NEXT: 

The Rams will play in the 2024 NCAA Div. III Championship and await the pairing to be announced on Monday, February 26 at 2:30pm.  

Release courtesy of Framingham State Sports Information