By Matt Cook
Sports Editor
Since the end of the fall semester, the women’s basketball team has gone 4-5, but as of late, the Rams have been bouncing back by getting key wins.
On Jan. 19, Framingham was able to capture their first victory in the MASCAC with a 70-58 win over MCLA which snapped the Rams’ four-game conference losing streak.
The team was led by guard Madeleine Park, a junior, who scored a season-high 32 points and added 11 rebounds to end the game with a double-double.
Framingham outscored MCLA 34-24 in the second half to close the game. They shot 40.4 percent from the field and 38.5 percent from beyond the arc.
The Rams’ second straight victory came on Jan. 21 when Framingham erased a five-point halftime deficit to overcome the Westfield State Owls, 71-59.
After 20 minutes, FSU trailed 33-28, but exploded in the second half with a 43-26 edge. Three players finished the game in double-digit scoring, with guard Kristen Hoffman, a sophomore, netting 19. She was a perfect 9-for-9 from the charity strip and 4-for-9 from the field.
Park added 14 and forward Kia Minor, a junior, contributed with 13 on 4-of-7 shooting.
“I think the more we play together, the more we learn each other’s strengths and develop great team chemistry,” Minor said. “In the past, we were a team that had trouble playing with composure in the final minutes of games that we had a comfortable lead, and we ended up turning an easy win into a difficult one.”
She also said this year, the team is getting away from that habit, and it will show a lot as the season progresses.
The Owls were held to 24 percent from downtown, and attempted only 10 free throws, converting five of them. The Rams had a large advantage, shooting 27 free throws total.
During the two-game winning streak, the Rams have won each by an identical 12 points. Despite losing five games since the break, Framingham’s margin of defeat has been just above nine points.
Their worst loss came on Jan. 10 against Bridgewater State, when the Bears dealt the Rams a 72-51 defeat. But the other losses were decided by three, four and nine points.
In Thursday’s game against Becker College, the Rams got off to a strong start in the first half, and it only strengthened in the second.
Hoffman scored 16 points, Park scored 11 and forward Emily Clark, a senior, netted 10.
Hoffman was a perfect 6-for-6 from the field and 2-for-2 from three-point land. Even more impressive, Hoffman also notched a 2-for-2 mark from the free-throw line.
Three starters for Framingham scored in double figures.
FSU’s shooting was phenomenal throughout the entire game as they were 45.9 percent from the field and 8-for-16 from beyond the arc. They only attempted six free throws, but held Becker to 25 percent or less in both aspects of shooting. Becker also struggled from the charity strip, converting just 13 of 22 for 59.1 percent on the night.
After the first half, Framingham (11-7) had a commanding lead of 45-21 over struggling Becker (4-13).
The second half of play wasn’t much different with the Rams outscoring Becker, 35-21 to conclude the contest.
Framingham’s bench combined for a total of 30 points, nearly Becker’s entire output after the Rams’ 80-42 drubbing.
Becker had help from Chelsea Joubert, who led the game with 18 points, and was the only player to reach double figures. The rest of the starters combined for just 21 points.
Becker’s bench also scored only three points, which hindered the offense, and were outrebounded, 48-38.
The Rams had a large 20-9 edge in steals and had a 9-3 advantage in blocks.
With the win, Framingham improved their home record to 7-2, putting them at 4-5 since coming back from the semester break.
Next up is Worcester State, who the Rams will face on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. on the road in MASCAC competition.
