Women's Basketball Upended By Blazers In Non-Conference Action

Smith-Akpan paces Green & Gold with team best 14 points

Chicopee, Mass. – The Fitchburg State Women's Basketball team dropped a 70-54 decision to the Blazers of Elms College this afternoon in non-conference action from the Picknelly Gymnasium.

 The Basic

Score: Fitchburg State 54, Elms 70

Records: Fitchburg State (1-2, 0-0 MASCAC) I Elms (1-2, 0-0 GNAC)

How It Happened

1st quarter

Elms jumped out to a 7-0 edge as sophomore Mary Turco (Winthrop, MA) notched a bucket and senior Kelly LeBel (Tolland, CT) knocked down a three-ball before Fitchburg State cut the deficit to 7-6 with newcomer Erin McNamara (Leominster, MA) burying a three pointer and a layup by senior Kaelynn Tanner (Lowell, MA).

The Blazers pushed the lead to 15-8 when Turco connected on a jumper, but the Falcons reduced the lead to 15-12 with baskets by senior Alexis DeSimone (Ashburnham, MA) and freshman Aryanna Wilson-Barracks (Waterbury, CT).

2nd quarter

Elms upped the lead to 20-14 as freshman Devyn Watford (Billerica, MA) netted a put back jumper before Fitchburg State battled back to take a 29-28 advantage into the break with sophomore Mary Keohane (North Chelmsford, MA) leading the charge with a layup and three-ball, while senior Mikayler Patch (North Attleboro, MA) and freshman Shanell Smith-Akpan (West Warwick, RI) adding one bucket each.

3rd quarter

Following the intermission, Elms regained the lead (33-29) when freshman Malinna Figueroa (Waterbury, CT) hit a three-pointer before Fitchburg State answered back on a pair of layups from Smith-Akpan to make the score 36-33.

The hosts extended its margin to 52-35 on two free-throws by Turco, but the Green and Gold trimmed the lead to 52-40 as Tanner connected on a three-ball and Patch netted a layup.

4th quarter

The Falcons reduced the advantage to 52-44 when Smith-Akpan sank a pair from the charity stripe and Keohane hit a layup, but the Blazers secured the victory with junior Tatiana Pereira (Providence, RI) burying a three-pointer, resulting in the 70-54 final.

Inside the Numbers

• Falcons were led by Smith-Akpan with a team-leading 14 points, eight rebounds, four assists and one steal
• Keohane added 12 points, two caroms, one assist, one steal and one block
• For the Blazers, Turco finished with a game-best 15 points, 12 boards and five assists
• Pereira chipped in with 11 points, five rebounds and three assists
• Fitchburg State shot 20-for-50 (40.0%) from the field and (4-of-21) 19.0% from three-point range
• Elms went 25-of-63 (39,7%) overall and (11-for-34) 32.4% for beyond the arc
• Blazers finished with a 42-28 margin on the glass

Up Next

Falcons return to action on Wednesday as they travel to Mount Holyoke to take on the Lyons in non-conference action, starting at 7:00PM.

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