Worcester State Defeats Fitchburg State, 68-52

FITCHBURG, Mass. – A quartet of Worcester State University women's basketball players scored in double figures to help lead the Lancers to a 68-52 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) victory over the host Fitchburg State Wednesday evening at the Parkinson Gymnasium.

Both Brianna Hackett (Hollis, N.H.) and Kate Surprenant (Pelham, N.H.) scored a team-high 14 points apiece, while sophomores Kaitlyn Berkel (Waterford, Conn.) and Britt Herring (W. Brookfield, Mass.) put up 13 and 12 points, respectively. Surprenant guided the offense with a game-high six assists and Hackett made 4-of-8 (50%) triples throughout the contest. Berkel led the team with eight boards, while senior Bianca Langford (Worcester, Mass.) led the team with four blocks.

Worcester State opened the contest on a 9-2 run as Hackett connected on a trey and a jumper, while Berkel added a bucket. Fitchburg State cut the deficit to 17-11 after freshman Allysa Rivera (Chelsea, Mass.) drained a three ball and sophomore Amy Connolly (Dedham, Mass.) hit a layup before Worcester's Surprenant knocked down a jumper as time expired to make the 19-11 after ten minutes of play.

In the second quarter, the Green and Gold went on a 12-3 stretch over the first five minutes of the quarter with senior Shabeli Villa (Lawrence, Mass.) sparked the run with seven points, while newcomer Kyra Rose (Rockland, Mass.) chipped in three points to give the Falcons a 23-22 advantage.

The Lancers regained the lead (25-23) on a bucket by Herring. Worcester State proceeded to go on a 10-2 run with Herring leading the way with four points, while Hackett added a trey before freshman Jaliannette Marquez (Dracut, Mass.) hit a running layup in the paint with two seconds left (35-27).

Following the break, Fitchburg State cut the lead to 40-34 after a three-pointer by Villa and back-to-back buckets from Rose and Marquez. Worcester State upped it margin (53-38) on baskets by Emily Carens (Northboro, Mass.), Langford, and a trey from Hackett.

In the final frame, the Lancers extended its lead (59-39) on a pair of jumpers by Berkel and freshman Catherine Sweeney (Lowell, Mass.) before the Falcons answered back on a three-pointer by Villa and a layup from Connolly to make the score 59-45.

Following a jumper from Surprenant, the Green and Gold closed out the scoring as Villa drained a pair form the charity stripe, while senior Melissa Guglielmello (Paxton, Mass.) added on free-throw, resulting in the 68-52 final.

Villa led all scorers, with a new career-best 21 points to go along with four rebounds and two steals, while Rose added to the mix with ten points, five boards, five assists and two steals for the Falcons.

Throughout the contest, Fitchburg State shot 16-for-58 (27.6%) from the field and 40.0% (4-of-10) from three point range, while Worcester State finished 24-of-54 (44.4%) overall and 55.6% (5-for-9) from downtown.

Fitchburg State (9-12, 1-8 MASCAC) returns to action on Saturday as it travels to MCLA to take on the Trailblazers at 3 p.m. Worcester State (10-12, 6-3 MASCAC) will host the Bears of Bridgewater State for a contest starting at 3 p.m.

Release Courtesy of Fitchburg State Sports Information