Fitchburg State Edges Emerson, 59-48

Payette nets a game-high 23 points in Falcons seventh victory of the season

FITCHBURG, Mass. (January 8, 2009) - Senior Stephanie Payette (Townsend, Mass./North Middlesex) collected a game-high 23 points and eight rebounds to push Fitchburg State past Emerson College, 59-48 in non-conference action this evening.

Payette led the Fitchburg State attack with a solid performance from the floor, hitting 9-of-17 from the field and 4-of-4 from the free-throw line. Junior Kari Averill (Barre, Vt./Spaulding) turned in a solid night for the Falcons with 11 points and three boards, while junior Michelle Ridge (Milton, Mass./Milton) shot 5-of-11 from the field for 11 points and four rebounds.

Freshman Rachel Kaye (Wakefield, Mass./Wakefield) led the Emerson offense with a team-high ten points, while senior Lauren Vassallo (Oxford, Conn./Seymour) pulled in a team-high 13 rebounds to go with eight points. Senior Maude Okrah (Rutland, Mass./Notre Dame) chipped in with eight points and ten boards for the Lions.

Fitchburg State grabbed a slim 24-22 lead in the first half as there were four lead changes in the half. Payette paced the Falcons with seven first half points, while Vassallo collected eight for the Lions.

In the second half, Fitchburg State came out firing, rallying off a 14-6 run to open the period. Emerson cut the Fitchburg State lead to 40-36 midway through the half, but the Falcons held off the Lion comeback with 19 points over the final ten minutes of play. Payette had the hot hand for the Falcons, tallying 16 points on 6-of-10 shooting, while Okrah posted eight points and five boards for the Lions.

Fitchburg State (7-5, 0-0 MASCAC) will be in action on Saturday as it hosts Framingham State College at 1 p.m. Emerson (8-4, 0-0 GNAC) will travel to Pine Manor College on Saturday at 12 p.m.

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Fitchburg State 59, Emerson 49