Fisher Women drop a tough one against Johnson & Wales

Junior Leslie Wadhams

Lynn, MA - The Fisher College Women's Basketball team lost their final game of 2010 as Johnson and Wales University (RI) beat them 63-52.

Junior Leslie Wadhams (Burlington, VT) scored her season high, 21 points for the Lady Falcons. Freshman Javanna Bernard (Waterbury, CT) dropped in 11 points as the Lady Falcons fall to 1-8 on the season.

Fisher battled hard with the visiting Wildcats in the first half. Wadhams scored nine points in the half while the team played terrific defense, limiting JWU (2-6) to just 26 first half points.

Freshman Kristina Terry (Haverhill, MA) came up huge along the boards as she collected 15 rebounds in the loss. The 15 rebounds is a new career high for Terry. She also added five points.

Both senior Tiffany Beckman (East Hartford, CT) and freshman Kimberly Woolley (Rollinsford, NH) played well for Fisher as they each added six points and multiple assists. Freshman Deanna Morency (Auburn, ME) chipped in three points in her 13 minutes of action.

After the new year, the Women's Basketball team will hit the court on January 8, 2011 when they travel up to Vermont and take on Vermont Technical College in a Sunrise Conference match-up. The next home game for the Lady Falcons will be on January 11, 2011 against non-conference opponent Green Mountain College.

Fisher Men close out 2010 with a loss at MCLA

Senior Tri-Captain Casey Pursell

North Adams, MA - The Fisher College Falcons Men's Basketball team finished the 2010 portion of the 2010-2011 season with a 89-82 loss at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts.

Finding themselves down by 9 points with 6 minutes left, the Falcons (3-11) fought their way back. A free throw from senior tri-captain Casey Pursell (Seattle, WA) with 2:48 left to play trimmed the MCLA (7-3) led to just two. However, Fisher shot just 1-for-5 the rest of the game as MCLA secured the victory.

Pursell finished the game with 23 points, a game high while senior tri-captain Louis Williams (Burlington, VT) dropped in 20 points. Both senior Daniel Nance (Brooklyn, NY) and junior Dennis Norford (New Haven, CT) added double digit performances with 12 and 13 points respectively.

Williams also dished out a team high 6 assists and Norford collected 5 rebounds, also a team high.

Before the Falcons begin Sunrise Conference play after the New Year, they will have an exhibition game against Lee Academy. They will then travel up to the Green Mountain state to take on Vermont Technical College (January 8, 2011) and College of Saint Joseph's (January 9, 2011) in Sunrise Conference play.

Late foul lifts Fitchburg State to 1 point win

Senior Tri-Captain Casey Pursell

Fitchburg, MA - A late over the back foul sent Fitchburg State junior Zach Valliere (Douglas, MA) to the line with the game tied at 80. He knocked down 1 of 2 to secure the victory.

Senior Casey Pursell (Seattle, WA) led the Fisher offense as he scored 22 points, a game high, as he shot 9-for-19 from the floor. Senior Louis Williams (Burlington, VT) added 15 points in the loss while classmate Oscar Brown (Buffalo, NY) played well off the bench as he recorded his third double-double of the season, 14 points and 10 rebounds. 

Fisher held a five point lead at the half, 45-40, due to their outstanding shooting from the floor. The Falcons knocked down 19 of their 35 shots (54.3%) including three key three pointers. Williams and Pursell both led the way as they collected 13 points respectively in the half.

In the second half, Fitchburg State came out hot. They shot at a 57.1% (16-for-28) clip from the floor including shooting at 50% from beyond the arc. Fitchburg used two key runs to get themselves back in the game. In the opening six minutes of the second half, FSC went on a 15-10 run to tie the score at 55. They would take a six point lead with 6:35 remaining after a 7-2 run but Fisher would battle back.

In the final minute, both junior Dennis Norford (New Haven, CT) and senior Daniel Nance (Brooklyn, NY) hit back-to-back jumpers to tie the game at 80. With a chance to take the lead, Fisher had possession of the ball with less than 30 seconds left. Pursell missed a tough jumper with 0:03 left and Norford was called for the over the back foul trying to get the offensive rebound.

Norford finished the night with 19 points and 9 rebounds, one board shy of recording his third straight double-double.

Fisher will return to action this Friday night (12/10) as they take on The New School in the inaugural Holiday Hoops Classic presented by Fisher College. This will also be the home opener for the Falcons who have gotten of to a 2-9 start. Game time is set for 7pm at the Fecteau-Leary Gymnasium. The game will also be broadcasted on LETV, Lynn's Educational Television Network.