FITCHBURG, Mass. (December 6, 2011) – The Fitchburg State women's basketball team squeaked out its eighth consecutive victory this evening, posting an 80-77 non-conference win over Lasell College at the Recreation Center.

Trailing by one with just under 0:30 left in the game, Fitchburg State sent senior Amy Fahey (Wilmington, Mass./Wilmington) to the line to take the lead. Fahey sank both free-throws, capping her evening with a game-high 22 points, while senior Madeline Merchant (Gardner, Mass./Monty Tech) iced the contest for the Falcons with a lay-up in the closing seconds.

Despite the close second half, Fitchburg State opened the game with an early lead, posting a double-digit advantage midway through the first half. Sophomore Laura Cote (Ashby, Mass./Saint Bernards) led the Falcons first half efforts with 11 points and two rebounds, while classmate Meghan Secino (Leominster, Mass./Saint Bernards) added eight points and four boards in the frame.

The second half proved to be different as Lasell shot 41.9% from the field, hitting 13-of-31 from the field to march right back into the contest. The Lasers closed the scoring gap late in the first period, trailing by only two at intermission, but Lasell opened the second stanza with a strong 8-1 run to post its first lead of the night (45-40).

The Falcons responded immediately with an 8-2 run of their own, sparked by three Fahey buckets, to notch a 48-47 margin at the 15:30 mark. Both teams would trade leads for the remainder of the contest, totaling 12 lead changes throughout the period.

Over the final three minutes of play, neither team grabbed more than a one shot lead, with Fitchburg State holding a 72-71 advantage after a Cote free-throw at 2:49. Alexis Chappell (Springfield, Mass./Sabis International) answered for the Lasers, rifling off four consecutive points for three point lead with 2:15 remaining in regulation. Fahey brought the Falcons within one with a pair of free-throws and later sealed the contest after Kelsey Johnston (Shirley, Mass./Saint Bernards) gave Fitchburg State the lead at the 1:14 mark.

Aiding Fahey on the Fitchburg State offensive front was Cote, who added 17 points on 5-of-11 shooting, while senior Rebecca Goreham (Quincy, Mass./Quincy North) turned in her fifth double-double of the season with 12 points and 12 boards. Freshman Justine Ryan (Norwood, Mass./Norwood) finished with a team-best 18 points for Lasell, while Chappell chipped in with a double-double effort of 16 points, 11 rebounds.

Fitchburg State (8-0, 0-0 MASCAC) will be back in action on Saturday as it hosts Western New England College at 1 p.m. Lasell (0-8, 0-0 GNAC) will host Westfield State University on Thursday at 7 p.m.