MCLA Men's, Women's Basketball Earn Road Wins
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FITCHBURG, Mass. -- Courtney Pingelski scored 24 points, pulled down 10 rebounds, and added six steals Thursday to help the MCLA women's basketball team notch a much needed MASCAC win over Fitchburg State University, 82-53
MCLA snapped a seven-game slide as it moved to 5-11 on the season and 1-3 in the conference.
Pingelski paced all scorers with her 24 point night. The junior went 8-for-17 from the floor and canned 4-10 from beyond the arc. Sam Gawron had her best game of the season scoring a career best 19 points off the bench on 9-13 shooting. L'Rae Brundige chipped in with 10 points while Mckenzie Robinson facilitated the offense all night long. Robinson collected 7 points, pulled down 8 rebounds, dished out 9 assists, and added four steals.
MCLA led just 12-7 early on, but ended the first quarter on a run to take a 20-11 lead heading to the second. Fitchburg (5-10, 0-3) pulled with 22-14, but MCLA answered with an 11-2 run to take a commanding 33-16 lead midway through the quarter. The Blazers eventually led, 46-29, at halftime. MCLA shot a solid 52 percent in the opening half of play.
Fitchburg got within 13 points at 50-37 in the third quarter, but MCLA outscored the Falcons 16-5 to close the third with an insurmountable 67-42 lead.
MCLA ended the game shooting 48 percent from the floor and committed a season-low 11 turnovers in the win. They held the Falcons to just 32 percent shooting and forced 20 turnovers.
MCLA is off until Tuesday when it hosts Salem State.
Men's Basketball
FITCHBURG, Mass. -- The MCLA men's basketball team placed four players in double figures and rallied back from a seven-point halftime deficit to roll past Fitchburg State, 77-64.
The Trailblazers (5-9 overall, 2-2 MASCAC) were led by Keiland Cross and Joe Wiggins who each scored 16 points.
MCLA trailed in this one 38-31 at the half but outscored the Falcons 46-26 in the decisive second half of play. MCLA held the Falcons (5-10, 1-2) to just 29 percent shooting in the pivotal second half and forced 10 turnovers as it surged in front.
Fitchburg led, 48-43, with 14:19 left to play before MCLA started to rally. MCLA held the Falcons to just two points over the next eight minutes, using a 20-2 spurt to seize a 63-50 lead with 6:25 left to play. Joe Wiggins scored the final five points of the run and scored 11 of the 20 overall.
The Falcons got within nine points at 63-54 with 5:20 left to play, but Mike Demartinis converted a pair of free throws and drilled a dagger 3-pointer to extend the MCLA lead back out to 68-54 with four minutes left. The Falcons didn't threaten again.
MCLA, who was winless in the league last year, was paced by Keiland Cross and Wiggins, who each ended with 16 points. Cross filled the stat sheet with 10 rebounds and six assists. Wiggins collected six boards in the win.
Other Trailblazers in double figures were Adam Conquest, who finished with a double double of 13 points and 12 rebounds. It's his third straight double double in the conference. Noah Yearsley ended with 11 points for MCLA.
MCLA is back in action on Saturday as it travels to Fisher for a non-league tilt.
