Rams Push Past AMCATS in Women's Basketball, 74-53

PAXTON, Mass.—The Anna Maria College women's basketball team wrapped up the first semester with a 74-53 non-conference loss to the Rams of Framingham State University on Saturday afternoon at the Fuller Activities Center.

The loss drops the AMCATS to 3-6 entering the holiday break, while the Rams improve to 7-2.

AMCAT senior Trafficia Warburton (Worcester, Mass.) tallied her sixth double-double of the season with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Freshman Kristina Russo (South Windsor, Conn.) matched her in the scoring column with 12 points, while junior Brandi Pasternack (North Brookfield, Mass.) chipped in with eight points off the bench.

The Rams were led by a trio of double-digit scorers; Nicole Bostic (Easton, Mass.), Alycia Rackliffe (Feeding Hills, Mass.), and Sara Palace (Auburn, Mass.). Bostic posted a game-high 21 points in a 6-for-13 shooting effort including three three-pointers and an additional 6-for-7 effort at the free-throw line. Rackliffe aided the Rams with 14 points, while Palace tallied 10.

Rackliffe also recorded a game-high four blocks while Lauren Donahuse (Attleboro, Mass.) dished out five assists.

The Rams took an early lead in the first half but never led by more than five in the first 10 minutes of the game. With 6:21 left to play in the first frame, Anna Maria's Christina Gauvin (Dudley, Mass.) hit a three-pointer to tie the game at 22-22. The Rams missed a three-pointer on their next trip down, and Antoinette Jean-Louis (Avon, Mass.) scored on the AMCATS' following trip to give Anna Maria a two-point lead.

A layup by Warburton at the 4:57 mark put the AMCATS up by four, but the lead was short-lived, as the Rams went on a 17-3 run to finish the half with a 39-29 lead.

The Rams continued their offensive dominance in the second half, outscoring the AMCATS 35-24 to seal the 74-53 victory.

The Rams hit 15 of their 33 field-goal attempts in the first half (45.5 percent), including five three-pointers. The AMCATS connected on 12 of 30 first-half shots (40.0 percent) with four three-pointers. The Rams added 13 additional field goals with three three-pointers in the second half (44.8 percent), while the AMCATS' shooting percentage dropped to 23.5 percent in the second half with an 8-for-34 effort.

Framingham bested the AMACTS in four out of the five scoring categories—points in the paint (34-20), points off turnovers (24-20), fast-break points (eight) and bench points (17-15), but Anna Maria held a 14-10 advantage in second-chance points.

Anna Maria is idle until December 30^th when they travel to Keene State for a 1:00 p.m. game to open the Owls' annual holiday tournament. Framingham is back in action on January 6^th, 2015, when they host Pine Manor at 6:00 p.m.