Worcester, MA --- Senior Meaghan O'Keefe (Warren, MA) registered her 14th double-double of the season with 29 points and 12 rebounds as she helped lead Worcester State past Fitchburg State, 71-46, in MASCAC women's basketball action this evening at the Lancer Gymnasium.

Junior Meaghan Burns (W. Brookfield, MA) also had a career night gathering an unconventional double-double with ten steals and ten assists while netting six points in the win. O'Keefe, who netted a collegiate-best point total on the evening, was 11-for-16 from the field with a pair of treys.

The Lancers (12-11, 8-2 MASCAC) also received a solid showing off the bench from sophomore Meghan Keohane (Mansfield, MA) who added 12 points and four boards.

The Falcons (9-12, 2-7 MASCAC) were paced offensively by third-year Amy Fahey (Wilmington, MA) who contributed an all-around solid game scoring a team best 14 points, grabbing seven rebounds, dishing out four assists and had two swipes in the loss.

Freshman classmates Erika Schneider (Rockland, MA) and Megan Wodzinski (Littleton, MA) had fine performances as well each scoring 11 points in the loss.

Trailing 13-12 at the 12 minute mark in the first half, Worcester State used a 31-10 run to go into the break with the 43-23 advantage and they never looked back.

Burns was the main factor during the run as she collected seven steals and dished out seven assists in the surge.

Her main target was O'Keefe whom she found on four occasions as she collected 13 points during this span including the final six of the period after nailing a trey and converting a traditional three-point basket.

The Lancers maintained a 20 point margin throughout the whole second half and saw their lead grow to 29 after a Keohane jumper midway through the stanza as they cruised ahead for the win to maintain second place in the MASCAC standings.

Worcester State shot an outstanding 44 percent from the field for the game (25-for-57) as Fitchburg State was limited to a 28 percent clip (14-for-51).

The Blue and Gold also led in rebounds (38-37), points in the paint (24-16), bench points (23-5) and used their 18 steals to cause 25 miscues.

Both teams return to action on Saturday afternoon with MASCAC opponents as WSU hosts Bridgewater State at 3:30 PM for Senior Day, and FSU returns home to take on Salem State at 1 PM.

Story By John Hanna --- Sports Information Graduate Assistant