Women’s Basketball Captures Share of MASCAC Regular Season Crown with Victory over Worcester State

Framingham, Mass. – The Framingham State University women's basketball team captured a share of the 2014 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) regular season title with a 71-55 victory over Worcester State University this afternoon in the MASCAC regular season finale for both squads at the Athletic Center.

The Rams (15-10, 8-4 MASCAC) share the MASCAC Regular Season crown with Bridgewater State University and Westfield State University who also finished the conference slate with an 8-4 mark.  The share of the MASCAC Regular Season Title is the first in the 38 year history of the FSU women's basketball program.

The Rams were led by junior Margo McCarthy (Southampton, Mass.) who led a balanced Rams attack with 13 points and four rebounds.  Senior Kristen Hoffman (Foxboro, Mass.) chipped in with a double double effort of 12 points and 11 boards to go along with four assists and two steals.  Junior guard Nicole Bostic (Easton, Mass.) came off the bench to score 11 for the Rams on 4-of-5 from the field, while freshman forward Sarah Palace (Auburn, Mass.) finished with 10 points and two assists.

The Lancers (9-16, 5-7 MASCAC) were led by 18 points from sophomore guard Julie Frankian (Millbury, Mass.).  Frankian connected on 7-of-13 from the field en route to her game-best 18 and she filled the stat sheet with four rebounds, two assists and a steal.  Senior guard Meaghan Burns (W. Brookfield, Mass.) was the only other Lancer in double figures with 12 points and seven rebounds.  Junior Shanned El-Qasem (Rutland, Mass.) chipped in with seven points, six boards and three assists.

The two teams traded the lead over the first five minutes of the game before the Rams took the lead for good on a Montá Connolly (Lynn, Mass.) jumper in the paint with 14:39 on the clock.  The Rams extended the lead to as many 18 (33-15) midway through the frame, but the Lancers surged and were able to pull within 11 at the half.

Worcester State cut the Framingham lead down to seven (47-40) on a Frankian jumper with 15:45 left in the game, but the Rams were able to push the lead back to double digits to secure the victory.

The Rams shot 47% from the floor for the game (30-64), while the Lancers connected on just 35% (20-58).  Framingham State also held a 41-34 edge in rebounds.

Both teams will be back in action next week in the MASCAC Women's Basketball Championship Tournament with pairings and seedings announced later this evening by the conference office.