Worcester, Mass. – Fitchburg State placed four players in double figures led by freshman Amy Fahey's (Wilmington, Mass.) 15 points and 11 rebounds and the visiting Falcons cruised to a 77-55 season opening win over Clark University in non-league women's basketball action on Monday evening at the Kneller Athletic Center.

Fitchburg State held the Cougars to 28 percent shooting for the game in picking up their second straight season-opening win over Clark following last year's 72-51 win in Fitchburg.

This contest was eerily similar as the Falcons controlled the glass, outrebounding the Cougars 54-40, while forcing 19 turnovers. Clark connected on just four of its 24 three-point attempts and saw its bench outscored 34-7.

The Cougars actually held a brief 7-2 lead in the opening moments of the contest before the Falcons went on a 19-1 run to take a 21-8 lead with eight minutes left in the first half. During the FSU scoring spree, Clark missed 11 straight shots and committed five turnovers.

Fitchburg State's lead actually dipped to single digits at 23-14 with a little less than seven minutes remaining in the first half, but a quick 6-0 burst had the lead in double figures again and the Falcons went into halftime ahead, 40-27.

Clark opened the second half on a 9-2 run that had the Falcon edge down to 42-36, but another run – this one a 12-2 spurt gave Fitchburg a 54-38 lead with less than 13 minutes to play.

The lead ballooned to as many as 22 on a few occasions, as Fitchburg shot 42 percent for the contest and attached 14 assists to their 28 baskets.

In addition to Fahey's standout collegiate debut, Megan Jacobs (Stoughton, Mass.) finished with 13 points and five rebounds, and Melissa Proffitt (Hubbardston, Mass.) added 12 points and eight rebounds. Molly Maloney (Taunton, Mass.) totaled 11 points, five assists and four steals for the victors.

Clark was paced offensively by a trio of freshmen. Emily Reilly (Marlborough, Mass.) tied for game-high honors with 15 points, while classmate Megan Grondin (Cumberland, Maine) added 12 points and four rebounds, while Ashleigh Condon (Hull, Mass.) chipped in 12 points and four assists.

Another freshman, Esther Cohn (Carrboro, N.C.) recorded three points and a game-high 13 rebounds, while junior Kate Minister (Manchester, England) ended with nine points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals.

Fitchburg State will return to the hardwood on Friday when they face Plymouth State in the opening round of the Wheaton Tip-Off Tournament, while the Cougars will look for their first victory on Saturday against Emerson in the Lions' Tip-Off Tournament.