Box Score
Box Score

AMHERST, Mass. – In the second semifinal of the inaugural Amherst College Tip-Off Tournament Fitchburg State College led nearly the entire game en route to a season-opening 71-59 win over Rensselaer. With the win, the Falcons improve to 1-0 overall, while the Red Hawks fall to 0-1.

After six and a half minutes of play, a three pointer by Fitchburg's Kelly Rogers (Lowell, MA) put the Falcons up10-7. A triple from Michelle Ridge (Milton, MA) with 10:36 to go in the first half put the Falcons up 20-10.

The Fitchburg lead grew as large as a dozen before a trio of fast-break lay-ups by RPI cut the deficit down to 28-22 with 5:28 to play. The Red Hawks closed the gap to four points after Laura Easterling (Ventura, CA) picked off a pass and went the distance for a lay-in.

Kim Duprey (Bernardston, MA) answered right back for Fitchburg, knocking down a three pointer from the wing. After another Falcon score, the lead quickly swelled to 35-26 with under two minutes to play in the half.

At the break, Fitchburg held a 35-27 lead, with scoring spread out evenly across their roster. Five Falcon players scored either six or seven points in the first half to form a balanced attack. RPI was led by Whitney Coleman (Rancho Cucamonga, CA) and Sarah Wetmore (Sudbury, MA) who scored 11 and 10, respectively.

At the 13:30 mark of the second half, Kerry Hayes hit a floater in the lane for RPI to cut the Fitchburg lead down to 44-37. With twelve minutes remaining, Colman hit a step-back three from the top of the key to bring her game total to 22 points, and cut the deficit down to 47-41. The Falcons responded with a 6-0 run to take a 53-41 lead, forcing RPI into a timeout with 10:13 to play.

With 5:46 to play in regulation, RPI's Wetmore converted a tough lay-up and drew a foul in the process. She was unable to make the foul shot and finish the three-point play, leaving Fitchburg up 58-45.

In the final few minutes of the game, Fitchburg held strong despite a valiant effort by RPI to climb back into the game. The Falcons hit free throws when it mattered, and closed out a 71-59 victory to move to 1-0, while RPI drops to 0-1.

Coleman scored a game-high 25 points and pulled down 11 rebounds for RPI in the losing effort, while Wetmore chipped in with 18 points. Krystle O'Brien (Malden, MA) led four Falcons in double figures with 14 points, while Ridge had 13 points and 13 boards.

Fitchburg will face Amherst in tomorrow's Tip-Off Championship at 4 p.m., following the conclusion of the consolation game between RPI and NYCCT at 2 p.m.