FRAMINGHAM, Mass. — Behind a double-double of 18 points and 11 rebounds from sophomore Samantha Irvine, the Framingham State University women's basketball team defeated the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts Trailblazers, 74-63, Sunday afternoon at Framingham's Athletic and Recreation Center.
With the win, the Rams improve to 13-9 on the year and 6-4 in the conference, while the Trailblazers fall to 8-15 overall and are still in search of their first Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference victory at 0-10.
Senior guard Madeleine Park scored 17 points for the Rams, including 4-of-10 from long range. Park reached the 1,000 point mark for her career on her first three pointer of the game. Park scored 426 points in 2.5 seasons at Salem State and has now scored 588 points as a Ram since transferring last January.
Irvine tallied a career-high 18 points including 8-of-11 from the free throw line and grabbed 11 boards including five offensive. Senior forward Kia Minor also racked up a double double in the game with 14 points and 16 rebounds including 10 on the offensive end, while junior guard Kristen Hoffman had a solid game with 14 points, five assists and two steals.
Senior guard Lucy Tremblay and freshman guard Mariah Brown led the Trailblazers' offense with 16 points each. Junior guard Kait Chenevert also recorded double figures for the visitors with 11 points including 7-of-8 from the line.
Both teams started the game hot from the floor trading 3-pointers and tying the game at 11-11. Tremblay, who scored 11 first-half points, hit a pair for the Trailblazers and Park hit three for the Rams, including one from the left corner for her 1,000th career point.
Both teams cooled off after the hot start and the first half saw six ties and 10 lead changes with the Rams taking a 30-29 advantage at the break on a Margo McCarthy fast break layup. The Trailblazers shot 37 percent in the opening half, while the Rams shot just 24 percent.
The Rams took control in the second as they opened up a seven-point lead on a Park 3-pointer and extended it to 11 on a 3-point play from Minor. The Trailblazers cut the lead down to 62-57 with 4:17 on the clock, but that was as close as they would get as the Rams extended the lead back to double digits
Both teams resume MASCAC action on Tuesday night with the Rams hosting Westfield State University for a 6 p.m. matchup and the Trailblazers traveling to Fitchburg State University at 5:30 p.m.
