Falcons Upended By Trailblazers In MASCAC Action

North Adams, Mass. – The Fitchburg State University Women's Basketball team dropped a 66-53 decision to the Trailblazers of MCLA this evening in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) action from the Amsler Center.

 The Basic

Score: Fitchburg State 53, MCLA 66

Records: Fitchburg State (3-17, 1-6 MASCAC) I MCLA (4-16, 1-7 MASCAC)

How It Happened

1st quarter

Fitchburg State opened the scoring as freshman Juliana Davis (Templeton, Mass.) drained a three-ball from the right elbow before MCLA grabbed the 4-3 edge on a layup from senior Maddie Teta (Tory, N.Y.).

The Trailblazer upped the lead to 7-4 on a three-pointer by newcomer Zaylee Ramos (Worcester, Mass.), but the Falcons knotted the score at 9-9 on back-to-back layups from sophomore Rylie Harlow (Hanson, Mass.). The hosts regained the lead (15-11) as Ramos netted a bucket before the Green and Gold closed out the first quarter scoring on another Harlow layup to cut the deficit to 15-13.

2nd quarter

The Trailblazers upped the advantage to 25-16 as Ramos connected on a three-pointer before the Green and Gold answered back as freshman Aliza Som (Lowell, Mass.) netted a jumper to make the score 25-18.

Fitchburg State went on an 8-0 run on baskets from Harlow, sophomore Stephanie Hart (Shirley, Mass.) and junior Olivia Almeida (Wilmington, Mass.), (31-28), but MCLA would take 35-30 edge into the break with freshman Kristie Zator (Windham, Conn.) registering a jumper.

3rd quarter

Following the intermission, Fitchburg State trimmed the deficit to 37-35 as Almeida drilled a three-pointer and Davis added a layup, but MCLA pushed the lead to 43-35 on a pair of free-throws by Ramos.

The Green and Gold responded when sophomore Morgan Genness (Belgrade, Maine) notched a jumper before the hosts answered back with a 6-0 stretch, capped by two free-throws from Ramos for the 51-39 advantage.

4th quarter

MCLA upped the margin to 57-43 with Ramos burying another three-ball, but Fitchburg State got a basket from Davis and two free-throws by Harlow to cut the lead to 57-48. Hart connected on a layup for the Falcons to make the score 62-52 before the Trailblazers secured the victory as Zator sank two from the charity stripe, resulting in the 66-53 final.

Inside the Numbers

• Falcons were led by Davis with a team-leading 13 points, four rebounds, one assist, one steal and one block
• Harlow added 12 points, four caroms, three assists and one steal
• For the Trailblazers, Ramos finished with a game-best 21 points, four boards, three assists and three steals
• Teta chipped in with 14 points, four rebounds, three assists and one steal
• This evening's contest marked the 77th meeting between the Falcons and the Trailblazers on the hardwood with Fitchburg State 46-31 all-time when taking on MCLA
• Fitchburg State shot 19-for-72 (26.4%) from the field and (3-of-27) 11.1% from downtown
• MCLA went 24-of-52 (46.2%) overall and (6-for-14) 42.9% for beyond the arc
• Falcons finished with a 52-40 margin on the glass

Up Next

Falcons return to action on Saturday as they host the Rams of Framingham State in MASCAC action, starting at 2:00 PM.