Fahey drops 21 points in Falcons second MASCAC loss of the season

SALEM, Mass. (January 19, 2012) – The Fitchburg State women's basketball team traveled to Salem State University this evening, falling to the Vikings, 89-63 in MASCAC action.

Salem State received a strong offensive effort as four players tallied double-figures. Junior Bridgett Dullea (Peabody, Mass./Bishop Fenwick) paved the way, totaling a team-high 17 points, while Tara Driscoll (Swampscott, Mass./Swampscott) and Breanna Comeau (Amesbury, Mass./Amesbury) finished with 16 points and 15 points respectively. Senior Amy Barry (Manchester, N.H./Memorial) was also solid with 11 points on the evening.

Sophomore Amy Fahey (Wilmington, Mass./Wilmington) led the Fitchburg State attack, notching a double-double with 21 points and 11 rebounds. Fahey shot 13-of-14 from the line to aid her 20 point attack, while classmate Laura Cote (Ashby, Mass./Saint Bernards) added 13 points to the mix.

The Vikings opened a 16 point first half lead and never looked back, registering their conference best, fourth victory of the year. Salem State used a 17-4 run early in the first half to jump out to its double-digit advantage (23-9), using a pair of twelve point efforts from Dullea and Driscoll in the frame.

Salem State increased its lead to as much as 19 throughout the stanza, stringing together a 16-4 run at the 4:55 mark. A pair of Fahey free-throws cut the Viking lead to 16 as time expired, capping her 15 point first half performance.

In the second, Fitchburg State quickly battled back, knocking the Salem State lead to only six just 2:47 into the period. Cote and Fahey added jumpers in the Falcons surge but five consecutive points from sophomore Madison Marek (New Ipswich, N.H./Saint Bernards) provided the spark Fitchburg State needed.

The Falcons momentum would not last long however as Salem State turned over a 15-4 run to extend its lead to 17 (63-46). The Vikings continued to cruise from there, sealing the contest with three consecutive buckets from Sandra Lanier (Groton, Mass./Groton-Dunstable) to open a commanding 20 point advantage.

For the game, Fitchburg State was held to just under 30.0% shooting, including just 2-of-11 from three point range. Salem State converted 31-of-75 from the field, while hitting 11-of-25 from downtown.           

Fitchburg State (14-2, 2-2 MASCAC) will be back in action on Saturday as it visits MCLA at 1 p.m. Salem State (8-8, 4-0) will visit Bridgewater State on Saturday at 1 p.m.