Women’s Basketball Claims Season-Opening Win at Fitchburg State, 69-57

FITCHBURG, Mass.- The Eastern Nazarene College women's basketball team opened the 2021-22 campaign with a 69-57 victory at Fitchburg State Friday evening in head coach Didier Dinh's first game at the helm.

The Lions begin the year with a 1-0 overall record with the win while the Falcons fall to 0-1 on the season.

Sydni Oviatt (Fruit Heights, Utah) poured in a game-high 21 points while hauling in nine rebounds. Sophia Torres (Fort Mohave, Ariz.) posted a double-double with 12 points and 11 boards. Alondra Jimenez (Santa Barbara, Calif.) tallied 11 points, seven steals, four rebounds, and four assists on the night. Shade Richardson (Lauderdale Lakes, Fla.) chalked up 11 points in her collegiate debut.

The visiting team sported a 16-13 lead through one quarter of action.

A bucket by Te'yalla Simpson (Fairfield, Texas) with 7:06 left to play in the second period pushed Eastern Nazarene's advantage to double-digits, 25-15.

Fitchburg State pulled even at 27-27 with 2:33 to go in the first half with a three-pointer by Allison Prentis.

The hosts capped off the second quarter with five-unanswered points to cling to a 32-29 edge at the intermission.

The Lions shot 30% from the floor and connected on 3-of-13 from beyond the arc in the first two frames. The Falcons posted a field-goal percentage of 32.4% while draining 4-of-19 from three-point range in the first half.

Oviatt, Richardson, and Simpson all paced Eastern Nazarene's balanced offense with six points at the halftime break.

The guests started the third quarter with a 19-3 run to regain the lead, 48-35, and concluded the period with a 55-44 advantage.

The Lions' largest lead of the night came with 3:41 remaining in the third as Oviatt canned a trey to widen the gap to 51-37.

Eastern Nazarene narrowly outscored Fitchburg State in the fourth period, 14-13, to cement its first victory of the season.

 The Lions finished the game with a field-goal percentage of 37.7% while sinking 7-of-24 from long distance. The Falcons shot 29% on the evening and were limited to 17.6% shooting from behind the arc.

Rylie Harlow and Jadelen Harold led the home side with 12 points each while Lindsay McDonald chipped in with 10 points off the bench.

Up next, Eastern Nazarene hosts MCLA November 6 in the first home game of the season.