12/04/2008
Fitchburg State Outlasts Women's Basketball,55-48

WORCESTER, MASS. 12/4/08 - Senior Stephanie Payette (Townsend, Mass.) scored 14 points and Fitchburg State College held off a late rally from Clark University to post a 55-48 non-conference womens basketball victory at the Kneller Athletic Center on Thursday night.

Fitchburg improved to 4-3 overall, while Clark dipped to 3-2.

Jamie Bertilson (Ridgefield, Conn.) chipped in with 10 points and a team-high nine boards for Fitchburg.

Freshman Kate Minister (Manchester, England) had 16 points, including four three-pointers, to lead Clark. Senior Sarah Roderigue (Oakland, Me.) finished with her first double-double (12 points, 12 rebounds) of the season, while junior Jillian Camilleri (Lancaster, Mass.) contributed with 11 rebounds, seven on the defensive end.

Clark grabbed its third lead (15-13) of the first half on Ministers three-pointer with 9:02 on the clock. Fitchburg quickly responded with a 9-0 run capped by two straight baskets from Bertilson for a 22-15 advantage. The Falcons then outscored the Cougars 11-5 over the final five minutes to take a 33-20 half-time lead. Payette had six points during the spurt.

Clark shot poorly from the field in the opening period, connecting on just 8-of-33 attempts (24.2%), while Fitchburg State shot at a 41.2 percent clip (14-34).

The Cougars used a 10-2 run, featuring back-to-back treys from Minister and Roderigue, to pull within five (30-35) to start the second half. Fitchburg pushed its lead back up to 10 (41-31) on a jumper by Amanda Purcell (Hudson, N.H.), but Clark refused to go quietly sinking four trifectas over the next 4:30 to take its first lead (45-43) since 9:02 of the first half. Junior Nicole LeVecque (Billerica, Mass.) came off the bench to spark the Cougars offense with consecutive treys during that run.

The two teams traded the next two buckets before the Falcons scored nine of the final 10 points to secure the victory.

Clark drained 10 three-pointers on the night, but only made two of its 11 attempts at the line.

Clark will travel to Trinity College for a non-conference game on Saturday (1 p.m.). Fitchburg will host Rivier College that same day (1 p.m.).