Fauci Matches Career High as Leopards Win Second Straight

BOSTON, Mass. – Senior guard Michelle Fauci (Boxford, Mass.) scored 23 points on 9 of 15 shooting to go along with four rebounds, four assists, and five steals as the Wentworth women's basketball team rolled to a 71-46 win over Eastern Nazarene in a The Commonwealth Conference contest played at Wentworth's Tansey Gymnasium.

The host Leopards scored the first basket of the game and never looked back, holding the Lions scoreless for nearly the first four minutes of action.  Wentworth built its lead to as much as 12 before Eastern Nazarene cut it to single digits (21-12) on a basket by freshman forward Alexis Malloy (Greenbelt, Md.) with 8:52 remaining.

That would be as close as the Lions would get for the remainder of the half, as Wentworth went on a 19-2 run over the next seven minutes.  During the run Fauci had eight points, with six coming on the fast break.  Eastern Nazarene cut the lead to 23 (40-17), with Fauci's first half point output equaling that of the visitors.

Wentworth upped its lead to as much as 27 with just under 15 minutes remaining before the Lions began to chip away, trimming the lead to 15 with 9:43 left in the contest.  That would be as close as Eastern Nazarene would come, however, as Wentworth used a 9-0 run to up the lead back to 24.

Freshman forward Morgan Furman (Falmouth, Maine) scored 16 points, grabbed eight rebounds, and had six assists, while junior forward Kirsten Vallone (Avon, N.Y.) chipped in with 16 of her own to go along with six rebounds, three blocks, and four steals.

The Lions were led by senior forward Jessica Schoppee (Scarborough, Maine), who scored 13 points.  Malloy grabbed eight rebounds, and senior guard Christine Tucker (Antioch, Calif.) dished out 10 assists.

The win, Wentworth's second straight, improves the Leopards' record to 6-6 overall and 2-0 in TCCC play.  The six wins surpass the win total of five last season.  Eastern Nazarene dropped its third straight to stand at 6-6 overall and 0-2 in league play.  Both teams step out of conference Thursday night.  Wentworth hosts Suffolk at 6:00, while Eastern Nazarene is at Fitchburg State at 7:00.