MCLA women stopped at Framingham 68-48

Courtesy of Framingham State Sports Information

Framingham, Mass. – Freshman Alycia Rackliffe (Feeding Hills, Mass.) posted game-bests of 21 points and four blocks to help the Framingham State women's basketball team move into second place in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) standings with a 68-48 victory over visiting MCLA on Tuesday evening.

The Rams, who have won six out of their last seven conference outings, improve to 12-10 overall and 6-4 in MASCAC action.  Framingham State enjoys a half game margin over Fitchburg State, Salem State and Westfield State, who are all 5-4. MCLA dips to 4-18 on the season and 0-10 in league play.

The Rams trailed 15-13 seven minutes into the contest before sophomore reserve Kerry Coyne (North Attleboro, Mass.) sparked a 10-0 run with six points to give the hosts a lead they would not relinquish the rest of the way. Junior Nicole Bostic (Easton, Mass.) began the spurt with a jumper in the paint before Coyne erupted for all six of her first half points. Senior Kristen Hoffman (Foxboro, Mass.) ended the outburst with two free throws that gave the hosts a 23-15 edge with 9:18 to go before intermission. 

Framingham State took a 41-28 advantage into the locker room at the half with both teams shooting well (MCLA: 46.2 percent and Framingham State 45.7 percent) but the Ram defense forced 17 Trailblazer turnovers over the opening 20 minutes.   

The Trailblazers could not get back to within single digits in the second half, cutting the deficit to 12 points on a pair of occasions.  The hosts excelled on defense in the second stanza, limiting MCLA to just 6-of-31 (19.4 percent) shooting after the break.

Rackliffe canned 9-of-14 shots from the field and all three of her free throw attempts on the night.  The freshman also gobbled up a team-best seven rebounds, including six on the defensive glass.  Hoffman and junior Margo McCarthy (Southampton, Mass.) both finished with 11 points while Coyne supplied eight points in just nine minutes of action.  The Rams were successful from the free throw line, nailing 11-of-12 freebies.

MCLA was paced offensively by senior Kaitlyn Chenevert (Uxbridge, Mass.) and rookie Michaela Siver (Colchester, Conn.) who tossed in 13 and 10 points, respectively. Freshman Courtney McLaughlin (Pittsfield, Mass.) added eight points while classmate Kayla Hotaling (Ravena, N.Y.) led all players with eight rebounds.

Framingham is off until Saturday when it travels to Salem State for a key 1pm MASCAC contest.  MCLA concludes a three-game road trip on Thursday at Suffolk at 5:30 p.m.