NEW LONDON, N.H. — Senior Angelina Marazzi scored a game-high 22 points to lead the Fitchburg State University women’s basketball team in a 68-45 loss to Colby-Sawyer in Friday’s opening round of the Colby-Sawyer Tip-Off Tournament.
Colby-Sawyer (2-0) took a 4-0 lead to start the contest on buckets from seniors Lexie Hamilton and Tianna Sugars, before Fitchburg State (0-3) answered with a jumper by Marazzi. The Chargers went on a 15-4 run, capped by a Hamilton layup, for a 19-4 lead, before junior Mishelle Logie responded with a jumper from the top of the key to cut the deficit to 19-8.
Fitchburg State cut the deficit to 26-19 as Marazzi and senior Emma Thomson buried 3-pointers. Colby-Sawyer upped its advantage to 32-19, with Hamilton connecting on a bucket, before Marazzi hit a jumper to close out the half to make the score 32-21 going into the break.
Following the intermission, the Charges extended their lead to 38-21 on a pair of free throws by freshman Caitlyn Boucher. The Falcons answered with a pair of buckets from Marazzi and a Lindsay McDonald basket to cut the deficit to 41-26, but a Boucher layup made the score 53-28 in favor of the hosts.
Fitchburg State continued to battle in the fourth quarter, as Marazzi converted a three-point play, while senior Allysa Rivera knocked down back-to-back 3-pointers to pull within 66-40. Colby-Sawyer secured the victory, however, as freshman Sydney Noyes sank two from the charity stripe, resulting in the 68-45 final.
In addition to her 22-point game, Marazzi added four rebounds and one assist for Fitchburg State. McDonald chipped in with seven points, four rebounds and one assist.
Junior Joslin Wainwright led the Chargers with 15 points. Sugars added a double-double of 13 points and 10 rebounds for Colby-Sawyer.
Fitchburg State falls into Saturday’s 2 p.m. consolation game, where it will face the loser of Friday’s later game between St. Lawrence University and Colby College. The Chargers, meanwhile, will host the winner of Friday’s late game in the 4 p.m. championship.
