UMass Boston Outlasts Fitchburg State, 66-58

Maloney leads Falcon efforts with team-high 11 rebounds

FITCHBURG, Mass. (November 23, 2010) – Freshman Shelby Buck (Greenfield, Ohio/McClain) notched a game-high 23 points to lead UMass Boston past Fitchburg State University, 66-58 in non-conference action this evening.

Buck paced a strong Beacon attack, shooting 7-of-11 from the field, including 6-of-10 from long range and 3-of-4 from the free-throw line. Classmate Colleen Hooper (Mansfield, Mass./Mansfield) was also strong in the Beacons third victory of the season, hitting for 18 points on the night, while junior Molly Rattigan (Dorchester, Mass./Fontbonne Academy) added a double-double with 11 points, ten rebounds off the bench.

For the Falcons, freshman Amy Fahey (Wilmington, Mass./Wilmington) led the charge, totaling a team-best 11 points on 5-of-7 shooting, while senior Megan Jacobs (Stoughton, Mass./Stoughton) tallied nine. Senior captain Molly Maloney (Taunton, Mass./Taunton) was active on the glass for Fitchburg State, totaling a team-best 11 boards, while classmate Melissa Proffitt (Hubbardston, Mass./Quabbin Regional) finished with seven points and five caroms.

In the first half, UMass Boston erased an early six point deficit, using 21-12 run over the final ten minutes of the half for 32-29 lead at the break. Hooper and Buck sparked the Beacons in the final minutes, connecting for back-to-back unanswered three’s, while Rattigan added a pair of jumpers in the rally.

In the second half, play heated up with neither team taking more than a two basket lead. Fitchburg State knotted the score early with a pair of free-throw by Proffitt, but Buck and Hooper answered again with consecutive trifectas for a six point advantage. The Falcons offense responded again at the 10:12 mar, tying the score (45-45) with a three-point play by Fahey.

Over the final minutes, UMass Boston secured its third win of the season, posting a 15-5 run over a  span of four minutes for a commanding ten point margin (60-50). Rattigan rallied the Beacons with five points in the surge, while Buck added yet another shot from downtown.

Throughout the contest, the Falcons were hampered by 25 turnovers and only 15.8% shooting from three point range. The Beacons finished 21-of-56 from the field (37.5%), while hitting 40.0% of their attempts from beyond the arc (10-of-25).

Fitchburg State (2-2, 0-0 MASCAC) will be back in action next Tuesday as it hosts Nichols College at 5:30 p.m. UMass Boston (3-1, 0-0 LEC) will travel to New England College on Sunday at 1 p.m.

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UMass Boston 66, Fitchburg State 58