Women's basketball massacres MCLA

By Taylor Kimmell Asst. Sports Editor The Framingham State Rams outscored the MCLA Trailblazers in all four quarters of their Feb. 14 conference matchup. This 94-35 victory improves the team’s conference record to 10-2 and their overall record to 14-9. A 3-point jump shot by senior Kiara Cerruti 40 seconds in opened the scoring, with the first points going to Framingham. A jump shot by sophomore Jacquelin Schels on the Rams’ next possession increased their early lead. Over the next 3 minutes, despite failure to score on their end, Framingham maintained a steady defensive wall, preventing MCLA from sinking a shot. A foul by the Trailblazers at the 6-minute mark allowed sophomore Faith Greene to sink a free throw, which was followed by a layup from Schels less than a minute later. MCLA finally put points on the scoreboard when, around 5-and-a-half minutes in, the Trailblazers broke through FSU’s defense for a jump shot. Fouled on the next play, Schels scored on a free throw. With 3 minutes left in the first quarter, the Trailblazers were able to score again, tallying a 3-pointer. Ten seconds later, Schels battled back with one of her own. MCLA broke through again with a layup, but it was quickly followed by another layup from Greene. After the Trailblazers missed their next jump shot attempt, freshman Zaria Anderson got the defensive rebound, and the ball made its way down the court for a Schels 3-pointer. MCLA made one more basket as the clock ran out in the first quarter. A jump shot by MCLA kicked off action in the second quarter, quickly followed by a 3-pointer by Schels off a pass from junior Ava Mckeon. Captain Kelsey Yelle, a senior, made a layup just 40 seconds later to bring the score to 22-11 in favor of the Rams. A little over a minute later, Captain Abigail Martin, a senior, made a layup. Four minutes in, Greene scored on a layup, followed by one from Yelle within 20 seconds of the first. On Framingham’s next possession, Mckeon scored 3 points on a jump shot. When FSU regained possession following two unsuccessful drives by MCLA, Greene brought the ball to the hoop for a jump shot. Within the next 7 seconds, Anderson snagged the rebound when the Trailblazers missed a layup and brought the ball down the court for a Greene-assisted jump shot. MCLA gained possession, their next shot bouncing off the rim for Martin to grab the rebound. She sent the ball to Anderson, who passed to Cerruti for a 3-pointer. After the Rams committed a foul, the Trailblazers earned three foul shots, all of which they were able to score on. A 3-point jump shot by freshman Evi Higgins brought the score to 41-14 with 2 minutes and 40 seconds remaining before the half. Anderson put the next points on the board for FSU with a 3-point jump shot. MCLA broke through once more before the half, sinking a 3-pointer. With 1 second left on the clock, Higgins scored a 3-point shot to increase the Rams’ lead to 47-17. The Trailblazers were first to the net in the second half, scoring on a jump shot before Schels made a layup for FSU 8 seconds later. Two minutes later, Greene scored again for Framingham, tallying points on a layup. On their next possession, the Rams brought in more points with a 3-pointer by Schels. Fouled by FSU 20 seconds later, the Trailblazers were given two foul shots, only making one. Yelle brought the score to 58-20 Rams in the following 30 seconds, scoring on two layups. After she was fouled by an MCLA defender, Anderson sank one of her awarded foul shots. The teams traded jump shots in the next 30 seconds, with one from Anderson coming from behind the 3-point line. Shaelagh Green made a layup at the 4-and-a-half minute mark, and the Rams’ defense kept the Trailblazers at bay after the ensuing turnover. Fouled by MCLA, sophomore Haleigh Cyrus stepped to the line for two foul shots, sinking both into the net. Framingham kept on the offensive, with Yelle making a layup, Cyrus scoring on a 3-point jump shot, and Green netting a jump shot in the final 2-and-a-half minutes. A 3-point jump shot from Green opened scoring in the game’s final quarter, followed by a layup from Cyrus in the same minute to bring the score to 78-22 Framingham. Following an unsuccessful MCLA possession, Green capitalized on a defensive rebound and scored on a jump shot. A 3-pointer by Higgins increased the Rams’ already massive lead, prompting a stronger press by the Trailblazers’ defense that prevented FSU from scoring for the next three possessions. Sophomore Hailey Ring broke through MCLA’s wall of defenders with a layup, restarting the action on the court. MCLA tallied points on a jump shot on their next play, but the Rams followed closely with a 3-pointer by Higgins. The Trailblazers capitalized on their next two possessions, scoring on a 3-pointer and a jump shot. With 4 minutes to go, Cyrus was fouled by MCLA’s defense, allowing her to sink two foul shots. The Trailblazers scored twice in the following minute with two 3-pointers to bring the score to 90-35, still overwhelmingly in favor of FSU. With a minute left on the clock, Cyrus scored on a layup, and, after strong defense from FSU kept MCLA’s final drive scoreless, sophomore Bridget Trainor netted a jump shot. The final 17 seconds ticked down, and the match ended with a startling 94-35 victory for the Rams. Trainor said, “Having a lead to start the game helps the team grow in confidence and gives us momentum to keep building off it.” Trainor added taking such a commanding lead early on in the match and building on it exponentially throughout the remaining quarters shows other teams in the conference that the Rams are ready to compete. She said, “These games help us show the MASCAC what we are capable of and also grow our confidence in our ability to beat any team in the conference.” The Rams fell to the Bridgewater State Bears 77-70 in a conference matchup Feb. 18, bringing their conference record to 10-3 and their overall record to 14-10. FSU hosts the Anna Maria Amcats for their final conference match of the season Feb. 21. Schels said with the regular season coming to an end, the Rams are proud to be coming into postseason play with the number two spot in the conference. She said the team hopes to end their year off strong with a “big run in the playoffs.” Trainor said, “Wrapping up the season, I think everyone has the same goal of winning the MASCAC and beating any team to get there.”