Seniors Lead Fitchburg State Past Rivier, 82-47

NORTON, MA- The Fitchburg State University women's basketball team used the hot hand of its senior class to defeat Rivier College, 82-47, this afternoon in the consolation game of the 17th Wheaton College Tip-Off Tournament in Emerson Gymnasium. The Falcons' senior class accounted for 76.8 percent of their offensive output, including three reaching double digits.

Improving to 2-1, Fitchburg State senior Molly Maloney (Taunton, MA/Taunton), who was named to the all-tournament team, connected on eight of 10 attempts to register a game-high 18 points. Classmate Melissa Proffitt (Hubbardston, MA/Quabbin Regional) and senior Kelley Rogers (Lowell, MA/Lowell) each posted a double-double. Proffitt scored 15 points and pulled in 10 rebounds, while Rogers netted 13 points and collected 10 caroms. Senior Megan Jacobs (Stoughton, MA/Stoughton) handed out a game-best five assists, and classmate Kristen Love (Londonderry, NH/Londonderry) grabbed a game-high 12 boards.

Fitchburg State's offense was clicking on all cylinders in the opening 20 minutes of play, as the Falcons shot 51.4 percent from the floor and 71.4 percent from behind the three-point arc. Fitchburg State used a 10-0 run in the span of 1:07 to take a lead it would never relinquish. Maloney fueled the surge with a three-pointer and lay-up, while Love converted a traditional three-point play to give the Falcons a 16-8 advantage just 3:30 into regulation.

Fitchburg State displayed its touch from the perimeter to widen its lead midway through the first frame. The Falcons connected on four shots from downtown during a 20-7 run for a 41-22 advantage with just under three minutes remaining in the first half. Senior Kim Duprey (Bernardston, MA/Pioneer Valley) helped spark the surge by knocking down back-to-back threes. The Falcons took a 45-26 lead into the intermission.

Fitchburg State stormed out of the locker room with a 22-8 run to firmly put the contest in the Falcons' grasp. Maloney scored six points during the decisive stretch, while Proffitt and Rogers each added four. Fitchburg State didn't let its advantage dip below 23 points over the remaining 11 minutes of regulation.

Falling to 1-2, Rivier freshman Britney Lane (Waterford, VT/Saint Johnsbury Academy) led a pair of double-figure scorers with 14 points. Senior Steph Adams (Nashua, NH/Nashua South) registered 10 points, collected a team-best six rebounds and recorded a game-high four blocks. Junior Amanda Purcell (Hudson, NH/Alvirne), who was selected to the all-tournament team, finished with nine points, three assists and three steals.

Fitchburg State returns to action on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m., when the Falcons host non-conference foe University of Massachusetts at Boston. Rivier will also play that night, when the Raiders host Regis College at 5:30 p.m.