Fitchburg, Mass. – Fitchburg State forced 49 turnovers and had 22 steals and the host Falcons posted a 56-44 win over Clark University in non-league women's basketball on Tuesday evening at the Athletics and Recreation Center.
The win marks the second consecutive season in which FSU defeated the Cougars in the first game of the season. Last year they collected a 77-55 win in Worcester behind then freshman Amy Fahey (Wilmington, Mass.).
Fahey, now a sophomore, proved to be the difference again, as she finished with a game-high 21 points and eight rebounds on an efficient 7-for-11 shooting.
Courtesy of its defense and some poor shooting by the Falcons, Clark held a 20-16 halftime lead as Fitchburg State went a frigid 6-for-39. The lead could've been more but the Cougars struggled from the field themselves in the opening 20 minutes, connecting on just 32 percent of their shots while committing 22 turnovers.
The Falcons opened up the second half with an 11-2 run, using three buckets from Fahey and two hoops from sophomore Madison Marek (New Ipswich, N.H.) to take a 27-22 advantage at the 16:30 mark.
The Cougars answered with a three pointer from sophomore Emily Reilly (Marlborough, Mass.) on their next possession to bring the deficit to only two (27-25), but that's as close as Clark would come as Fitchburg State responded with a 10-2 run at 12:19 to take a commanding ten point lead.
In a game that featured 80 combined turnovers, neither team shot well from the floor. Clark shot 33 percent, while the Falcons made just 29 percent of their attempts. The Cougars struggled from three-point land, going just 1-for-12 but dominated the glass, 51-38.
Reilly and classmate Megan Grondin (Cumberland, Maine) led the Scarlet and White with 12 points each, while junior Kelsey Giedymin (Shrewsbury, Mass.) finished with a career-best 13 rebounds.
Freshman Victoria Russo (Arlington, Mass.) came off the bench and totaled six points, seven rebounds and four steals in just 22 minutes of action.
Fitchburg State (1-0) will be back in action on Friday as it participates in the Curry College Tournament with a game slated for 7:30 p.m. against the host Colonels, while Clark (0-1) will battle Colby in the opening round of the Brandeis Invitational on Saturday at 7:00 p.m.