AMCATS Lose Non-Conference Matchup to Fitchburg

PAXTON, Mass – Due to the snowstorm last Thursday evening the matchup between Fitchburg State and Anna Maria was rescheduled for Monday evening. Though the AMCATS were able to keep the contest close in the first half, the Falcons flew away victorious.

For the AMCATS it was another double digit night for leading scorer, senior guard, Kristina Russo (South Windsor, Conn), who scored 17 to lead the AMC scoring. Senior center Shannon Hoffmiller (Oxford, Conn) joined Russo in double digit scoring with 15 points of her own. Hoffmiller also pulled down eight rebounds for the 'Cats while also dishing out four assists and blocking three shots on the evening. Sophomore guard Hailey Moore (Worcester, Mass) had a good night under the basket as well, leading the AMCATS with nine rebounds. She added six points to the home tally while blocking two shots and grabbing three steals. Joining the rebounding parade for Anna Maria was freshman guard Franny Hammond (Worcester, Mass) who pulled down eight boards of her own.

The Falcons were led by their leading scorer, sophomore guard Angelina Marazzi (Manchester, N.H.), as she scored a game high 21 points to go along with three steals, three assists and three rebounds. Sophomore guard Emma Thomson (York, Maine) put down 18 points for the visitors, and grabbed five boards. Coming off the bench for the Falcons and scoring 13 points in the win was junior guard Mikala Malboeuf (Fitchburg, Mass).

Though the AMCATS fell to a 5-0 deficit in the first minute they picked it up quickly to take a 6-5 lead with just under three minutes gone in the quarter. From their they kept relative pace with the Falcons who jumped out to a seven-points lead to end the first, 22-15.

In the second quarter the 'Cats were able to lessen the lead to three with just over three minutes played. However, Fitchburg picked up their offensive momentum and were able to jump out to a 12-point lead with two and a half to play in the half. With twenty-three seconds left in the half Marazzi hit a three-pointer that would give her team the 41-26 lead going in to the half time break.

The second half would begin the way it ended, with a Falcon three pointer to extend their lead. With three minutes gone in the quarter, Russo was able to create a three-point play to try and grab something back for the AMCATS. Unfortunately for AMC it would be all Falcons from there on out taking a 60-44 lead in to the fourth where it was more of the same from the visitors who left Paxton with an 84-53 victory over Anna Maria.

The AMCATS will be back in action on Thursday evening at home at 5pm to take on Suffolk University in conference play.