Women’s basketball beats Ravens in home opener

By Izabela Gage

Sports Editor

The Framingham State Rams defeated the Rivier University Ravens 82-53 in a non-conference matchup Nov. 12. This win brings their overall record to 2-0. Junior Ava Mckeon said, “Starting off the season 2-0 lights a fire underneath our team. It sets the tone for us to bring the energy and excitement to each and every game we will continue to face.” Sophomore Shaelagh Green said, “Our on-court chemistry has already grown so much in the early part of this year. It's a long season, but we're starting off in the direction we want to go in!” Captain Kelsey Yelle, a senior, said she is very happy with their successful start to the season. “The ultimate goal is to always win, and so being able to start 2-0 sets the tone in a way that shows that we came out from the start ready for this year and that we want to do better than last year. We always hold each other accountable, and to high standards.” Framingham set the tone right from the opening minutes, building early momentum that earned them a decisive win. After Rivier’s Gianna Donato missed an early layup, Captain Abigail Martin, a senior, grabbed the defensive rebound and sparked the Rams’ offense. Senior Kiara Cerruti quickly converted with a layup to put Framingham on the board, and she followed up with a steal and a smooth jump shot, giving the Rams a 4-0 lead. Rivier responded with a layup, but Martin calmly hit two free throws to stretch the lead back to four. The Rams’ defense, led by Martin and Yelle, was assertive on every possession. Martin and Yelle forced multiple turnovers and rebounds, frustrating Rivier’s attempts to find rhythm. A jump shot from sophomore Jacqueline Schels extended the Rams’ lead to 8-2 midway through the first quarter. Cerruti continued to shine, scoring another jump shot off a Martin assist, forcing a Rivier timeout as Framingham went up 10-2. The Rams’ energy stayed high after the timeout. Despite some missed opportunities around the rim, Framingham’s hustle on the glass and defense never wavered. Martin, Cerruti, and Schels dominated the boards, while junior Bryanna Grant and freshman Zaria Anderson came off the bench to provide strong defensive minutes. Martin closed the quarter by sinking two clutch free throws, and Framingham ended the first period with a 12-6 advantage. In the second quarter, Framingham’s offensive rhythm hit another gear. After a substitution, Mckeon drilled a three-pointer from the wing off a crisp pass by Yelle, extending the Rams’ lead to 15-6. Rivier tried to respond, but the Rams’ depth proved too much. Martin continued to control the paint, scoring on a layup off an assist from freshman Evi Higgins, while Cerruti and Schels kept capitalizing on second-chance opportunities. The Rams’ defensive rotation was airtight, as every Rivier possession was met by a swarm of Framingham defenders. Cerruti’s steals and timely rebounds set the stage for back-to-back layups by Schels, giving the Rams a double-digit cushion. Even as Rivier’s Donato hit a late bucket, Framingham carried a confident 28-21 lead into halftime. Coming out of the break, the Rams continued to build their advantage. Martin set up Cerruti for a deep three-pointer early in the third, a sequence that ignited the Framingham bench and fans alike. Schels added a layup, assisted once again by Martin, while Cerruti’s quick hands created several steals that translated into fast-break points. Anderson joined in the scoring run with a clutch three-pointer that pushed the Rams ahead 36-25. Green and sophomore Bridget Trainor came off the bench and immediately made an impact, knocking down key jumpers to maintain the Rams’ momentum. Midway through the third, the Rams went on a 10-point run fueled by relentless defense. Cerruti’s layup made it 49-30, forcing yet another Rivier timeout. By the end of the third quarter, the Rams led comfortably, 60-35, behind an all-around team effort. Framingham closed strong in the fourth quarter, with Cerruti opening the frame with another three-pointer, assisted by Trainor. Mckeon and Yelle combined for steady free-throw shooting to keep the Rams firmly in control. Anderson and Green continued to dominate the inside, each converting on layups. Trainor added a deep three to make it 72-39, effectively sealing the game. Despite some late scoring by Rivier, the Rams’ bench maintained the pressure. Green poured in several more baskets down the stretch, and sophomore Haleigh Cyrus made a layup off an assist by Grant. Higgins finished scoring for the Rams with one of her own. Rivier made one last jump shot to close the deficit to 82-53, still in favor of Framingham. When the buzzer sounded, the Rams stood tall with a commanding win. Yelle said, “The team handled Rivier’s offense throughout the game with great defense. Our communication on the court is what makes our defense good, and being able to stop Rivier from making plays. “We knew before the game started about who Rivier had as their leading scorers, so our goal was to make sure we shut them down so they don’t get hot on shooting and making plays,” she added. Mckeon said she thinks the team was able to “come out in the second half and adapt to their style of play. At first, we wanted to feel them out and see which players could do what, but after halftime and discussing what our areas of weakness were in the moment, we decided on a better game plan to cover their offense.” Green said, “Offensively, our team is always looking to make the extra pass to get the best scoring option. Defensively, we rely on each other through communication. When everyone is locked in the energy we have feeds off each other. Knowing we have each other's backs helps with confidence on both ends of the court.” Schels said, “Throughout the game, I think we did really well on defense, and we were really connected. After halftime, we got way more settled in and more comfortable, which helped us pull away.” Schels earned MASCAC Player of the Week Nov. 10 after scoring 15 points with nine rebounds while shooting 54.5 percent from the floor in the Rams’ 68-56 win over Salve Regina. Schels said being recognized by the conference is “a great way to start, but I try not to think about it too much and let things take care of themselves.” The Rams host Brandeis University to face the Owls on their home court for a non-conference game Nov. 15. Green said the team has been focusing on “cleaning up the little things this week. Brandeis is a competitive team, so we need to come out strong and play together the entire game.” Mckeon said, “As we head into Brandeis, the team is working on bettering our communication on both ends of the floor, and using all of our skills as a team, to push the ball and run our offense to execute smoothly.”