Women's Hoops Stumbles at Fitchburg, 76-64

FITCHBURG, Mass. (December 3, 2013) – The Lasell College women's basketball team dropped a 76-64 result at Fitchburg State on Tuesday evening. The loss dropped Lasell to 3-4 on the season while Fitchburg State climbed to 3-2 for the year.

Sophomore guard Katie Stopera (Hollis, N.H.) led the Lasell attack, posting a team-high 18 points with 9-of-12 shooting from the free-throw line, while junior Danielle Autencio (Montville, Conn.) added a double-double effort of 17 points and 12 rebounds.

Junior Rebecca Fluet (Fitchburg, Mass.) paced four Fitchburg State players in double-figures, totaling a game-high 21 points with 7-of-10 shooting from the field to go with four assists and two steals. Senior Amy Fahey (Wilmington, Mass.) and sophomore Megan Wodzinski (Littleton, Mass.) were also solid with 13 points and 12 points respectively, while junior Laura Cote (Ashby, Mass.) added 11 points, five steals and four assists.

After a slow paced first half which witnessed an eight point advantage for the Falcons at 30-22 and 24 total turnovers, Lasell swung the momentum in its favor early in the second, knotting the score at 36-36 with 12:48 remaining in the contest.

Stopera and Molly Lauver (Cambridge, N.Y.) started the Lasers rally with a lay-up and three pointer respectively, while junior Alexis Chappell (State Island, N.Y.) closed the run with an and-one effort down-low. Moments later, Lasell took just its third lead of the contest, 41-40 behind a three from Stopera at the 10:32 mark.

Fitchburg State responded behind strong defensive play from Britney Payne (Franklin, Ky.). A steal from Payne at the 9:53 mark led to a trey from Cote to give the Falcons a two point advantage (43-41) and another theft and lay-up from the junior transfer put Fitchburg State up 45-41.

The Falcons posted a 9-2 run over the next three minutes to regain their double-digit advantage. Junior Tara Ingram (Palmer, Mass.) ignited the run with back-to-back buckets, while Fahey and Cote connected for five consecutive points at the 6:51 mark. The Falcons then sealed the victory over the next five minutes of play, scoring 11 times on its last 15 possessions for the 76-64 final.

Fitchburg State (3-2, 0-0 MASCAC) will be back in action on Thursday as it visits Tufts University at 7 p.m. Lasell (3-4, 0-0 GNAC) will host Westfield State on Thursday at 7 p.m.