Fitchburg, MA --- Senior Meaghan O'Keefe (Warren, MA) posted her 10th double-double of the season with a career-best 26 points and 18 boards as she helped lead Worcester State to a 76-64 triumph over Fitchburg State in MASCAC women's basketball action this evening.

With the win the Lancers improve to 8-9 and remain unbeaten in MASCAC play at 4-0. The Falcons slip to 7-8 and 0-3 in conference action.

O'Keefe did her damage on 8-of-17 shooting and she was a perfect 8-for-8 from the free throw line with a pair of made trey's. O'Keefe also rejected a season-best six blocks in the win for WSU.

Junior Meaghan Burns (W. Brookfield, MA) chipped in with 15 points as fourth-year Kara Rogers (Lowell, MA) registered nine points and dished out five assists.

Third-year Amy Fahey (Wilmington, MA) led Fitchburg State with a squad-best 17 points on a 7-for-13 effort from the field while sophomore Megan Wodzinski (Littleton, MA) added 11 points.

Junior Lauren Cote (Ashby, MA) and freshman Erika Schneider (Rockland, MA) both notched 10 points apiece in the setback.

As Worcester State held the early 9-8 lead five minutes into the contest, the Lancers opened up the game with a 17-4 spurt to make the score 26-12 with 5:42 left in the opening frame.

Burns notched seven points in the run while Rogers and sophomore Kelli McPherson (Mansfield, MA) both drilled triples in the run.

WSU maintained their commanding advantage and led 39-21 at the intermission.

For much of the second period the Lancers continued to lead by double-digits, but it seemed to slip away as Fitchburg State rallied late.

With Worcester State holding onto the 61-49 lead at the 4:49 mark, the hosts utilized a 12-2 surge to threaten with 1:58 left (65-61). Fahey and Wodzinski each canned three-pointers to help slice into the deficit.

But the Lancers quietly ended the threat by sinking 11-of-12 attempts from the charity stripe to seal up the win.

The Lancers connected for 49 percent from the field for the contest (25-for-51) and 81 percent from the line (18-for-21). WSU also dominated the paint (28-20), points off turnovers (14-11) and – due in large part to O'Keefe's solid performance – held the 38-37 edge in rebounds.

Fitchburg State shrugged off a poor performance in the first half (22 percent – 7-for-32) to hit 47 percent in the second stanza (14-for-30). The hosts also had the 18-10 lead in offensive boards and the 14-12 margin in second-chance points.

Both squads will continue MASCAC play with games on the road on Thursday at 5:30. Worcester State heads to Bridgewater State for a key matchup in a battle of unbeaten teams as BSU is 3-0. Fitchburg State travels to Salem State.