NEWTON, Mass. – In their final game of 2013, the Mount Ida women's basketball travelled to non-conference foe Fitchburg State on Tuesday night and, despite a late run, suffered a 67-51 defeat.
Junior Jenn Rafuse (Brockton, Mass.) scored 18 points, one shy of her career high, and grabbed 13 rebounds for her third double-double of the season. Freshman Angelique Martinez (Taunton, Mass.) also was in double-digits in two categories, leading all players with 14 rebounds to go with her 11 points.
The Mustangs (2-7), trailing by 25 points with 9:18 left to go in the second half, used a 17-6 run over the next six minutes to pull within twelve points, but could not complete the comeback, as the Falcons improved to 4-4 on the season.
Fitchburg State registered four players in double-figures with sophomore Tori Cyrus (Everett, Mass.) leading the way with her game-high 11 points. Junior Rebecca Fluet (Fitchburg, Mass.) was also solid with ten points, six boards and five steals, while junior Britney Payne (Franklin, Ky.) and sophomore MeganWodzinski (Littleton, Mass.) added ten points apiece.
The Falcons had a strong defensive effort, causing 30 Mustang turnovers and picking off 18 passes.
Fitchburg State opened a ten point lead after one half of play behind an eight point effort from Wodzinski. The sophomore forward sparked the Falcons down the stretch, connecting for a three pointer with 0:55 remaining in the half and a pair of free-throws with 0:26 on the clock.
Wodzinski paced the first half efforts, shooting 2-of-3 from three point range and 2-of-5 from the floor, while junior Payne added six points and three boards. Rafuse was strong for the Mustangs, nearly completing her double-double with eight points and 11 boards in the opening 20 minutes, and the teams went into the break with Fitchburg State ahead 31-21.
In the second half, Fitchburg State took a 16 point advantage just five minutes into the frame. The Falcons strung together a 12-6 run with lay-ups from Wodzinski, Payne and Cyrus, before jumping out to a 25 point advantage (52-27) with seven consecutive free-throws and a bucket down low from Kristen Enright (Westminster, Mass.).
For the game, Fitchburg State shot 29.3% from the floor and 20-of-31 from the free-throw line, while Mount Ida finished 21-of-60 from the floor and just 5-of-15 from the charity stripe.
Rafuse and freshman Katlyn Jesse (Marshfield, Mass.) each had four assists to lead the Mustangs, while Rafuse had three steals and two blocks and hit both of her attempts from behind the three-point line.
Jesse and senior Abbey Fedigan (New Fairfield, Conn.) each added six rebounds, and Fedigan had six points, three assists and two steals.
Freshman Stephanie Champoux (Tewksbury, Mass.) added seven points for the Mustangs, all of them in the second half.
Mount Ida will be in action after the holiday break when they visit Becker College on January 4th at 1 p.m.
Fitchburg State will also pause for the winter recess, returning to action just after New Years on January 2nd when Western New England comes to town for a 7:00 pm game.