MCLA tripped up at Framingham 74-63

Courtesy of Framingham State Sports Information

Framingham, Mass. – Behind a double double of 18 points and 11 rebounds from sophomore Samantha Irvine (Franklin, Mass.), the Framingham State University women's basketball team defeated the MCLA Trailblazers 74-63 this afternoon in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) action at Framingham's Athletic & Recreation Center.

With the win, the Rams improve to 13-9 on the year and 6-4 in the conference, while the Trailblazers fall to 8-15 overall and are still in search of their first MASCAC victory at 0-10.

Senior guard Madeleine Park (Blue Hill, ME) scored 17 points for the Rams including 4-of-10 from long range. Park reached the 1,000 point mark for her career on her first three pointer of the game. Park scored 426 points in two and a half season at Salem State and has now scored 588 points as a Ram since transferring last January.   

Irvine tallied a career-high 18 points including 8-of-11 from the free throw line and grabbed 11 boards including five offensive.  Senior forward Kia Minor (Edgartown, Mass.) also racked up a double double in the game with 14 points and 16 rebounds including 10 on the offensive end, while junior guard Kristen Hoffman (Foxboro, Mass.) had a solid all around game with 14 points, five assists and two steals.

Senior guard Lucy Tremblay (E. Greenbush, NY) and freshman guard Mariah Brown (Windsor Locks, CT) led the Trailblazer offense with 16 points apiece. Tremblay filled the stat sheet with eight boards, four assists and two steals, while Brown added three helpers.  Junior guard Kait Chenevert (Uxbridge, Mass.) also recorded double figures for the visitors with 11 points including 7-of-8 from the line.

Both teams started the game hot from the floor trading three pointers and tying the game at 11-11.  Tremblay, who scored 11 first half points, hit a pair for the Trailblazers and Park hit three for the Rams including one from the left corner for her 1,000^{th career point.}

Both teams cooled off after the hot start and the first half saw six ties and ten lead changes with the Rams taking a 30-29 advantage at the break on a Margo McCarthy (Southampton, Mass.) fast break layup.  The Trailblazers shot 37% in the opening half, while the Rams shot just 24%.  Park led the Rams with 13 first half points, while Minor added nine.

The Rams took control in the second as they opened up a seven point lead on a Park three and extended it to 11 (60-49) on a three point play from Minor.  The Trailblazers cut the lead down to five (62-57) with 4:17 on the clock, but that was as close as they would get as the Rams extended the lead back to double digits

Framingham State held a 45-40 advantage on the boards including a 24-15 edge on the offensive glass that led to 21 second chance points.

Both teams resume MASCAC action on Tuesday night with the Rams hosting Westfield State University for a 6 p.m. matchup and the Trailblazers traveling to Fitchburg State University at 5:30 p.m.