Felicia Haynes scored 20 points, including 15 in the second half, and Andreen Gilpin grabbed 12 rebounds to pace the Beacons to a 78-68 victory over Fitchburg State College. The victory extended UMass’s winning streak to three this season.

After the Beacons won the Annual Tipoff Classic with dominating performances over Daniel Webster College and Emerson College, they ran into a tougher challenge in Fitchburg State. Fitchburg State held a 29-23 lead at half time, holding a high percentage in field goals and free throws. The lead for Fitchburg State was as high as 14 in the first half.

The Beacons slowly chipped away at the Fitchburg State lead before the end of the half, led by Haynes and junior guard Kristen Bowes. A three pointer by Seiko Kudo with five seconds left in the half gave the Beacons the momentum heading into the second half.

It took the Beacons a little more than four minutes in the second half to take their first lead of the night, 36-35 when Haynes put in her third basket of the half. The Beacons gradually began to wear down Fitchburg State. Bowes picked apart the defense of Fitchburg State with 10 assists in the second half (twelve total for the game). The Beacons increased their lead to double digits four separate times, reaching a high of thirteen.