The Framingham State University women's basketball team used a 12-0 run fueled by a pair of three pointers from sophomore guard Kristen Hoffman (Foxboro, Mass.) late in the second half to take the lead for good and defeat Suffolk University 48-44 this evening in non-conference women's basketball action.
With the win, the FSU Rams improve to 3-2 on the season, while the Suffolk Rams are now 4-2.
Tied at 12-12 with just over 12 minutes remaining in the first half, the Suffolk University Rams used a 12-3 run over the next eight minutes to take the game's largest lead (24-15). Junior Jacqueline Vienneau (Salem, NH) fueled Suffolk's run with five points including a three pointer to break the 12-12 tie. Suffolk held Framingham State scoreless for five minutes during the stretch and capitalized on multiple FSU turnovers.
The Framingham State Rams answered with a run of their own as they closed the half on a 9-1 spurt capped by a three point play from senior forward Emily Clark (Melrose, Mass.) with 3.6 left in the frame to pull within one at the break (25-24).
Framingham State started the second half quickly with a jumper from junior Michelle Hagerty (Somerville, Mass.) and a layup from Clark to take a 28-25 lead. Suffolk responded with a 14-3 run of their own to take a 39-31 lead with 7:38 remaining. Senior Mary Garon (Auburn, NH) nailed a three from the top of the key in transition to start the charge, while sophomore forward Jessica Bard (Harleysville, PA) chipped in five points on the run on a tough layup in traffic and three freebies.
Sophomore guard Cassie Liston (Stoneham, Mass.) and Clark sank jumpers in the paint to start the Rams on the decisive run and pull them within four at 39-35 with 6:46 left. After a Clark block on the defensive end, Bostic found Hoffman on the left wing for the first of her two trifectas to pull the Rams within one. A Hagerty lay-in with 4:18 remaining put the Rams ahead for good. Hoffman's second three of the night pushed the Rams lead to four (43-39) with 3:27 left.
Neither team would score until Vienneau nailed a jumper on the left wing from just inside the 3-point line to pull Suffolk back within two with 1:27 remaining. Suffolk was forced to foul in the final minute. Liston would hit one of two and Hagerty sank a pair from the line to give FSU a 46-41 lead with 22.2 on the clock. A Vienneau three pulled Suffolk back within two with 6.6 remaining, but Hoffman nailed a pair of free throws to extend the lead back to four and seal the win.
Despite struggling from the floor in the game, Hoffman picked up a double double with 12 points and 10 boards, all on the defensive glass, while Hagerty finished with 12 points and eight boards. Clark also recorded double digits for Framingham with 11 points and five boards.
Suffolk was led by Vienneau who chipped in 18 points on 8-of-18 shooting from the floor, while Garon finished with six points and a game-high 11 boards.
Both teams struggled from the floor in the game with Suffolk shooting 26% (16-61) and Framingham State shooting 31% (16-51).
The Rams return to action on Saturday with a non-conference game at Lasell at 1 p.m., while Suffolk hosts Colby-Sawyer on Tuesday, December 6th at 7 p.m.
(Story courtesy of Framingham State University)