MILTON, Mass. - Johnson State women's basketball opened their season on Friday falling 89-57 in the Curry College Tip-Off Tournament to Fitchburg State University.  Johnson fell behind late in first half could not recover as they are now 0-1 and the Falcons 1-0.

Sophomore Brittany Robertson (Burlington, Vt./Burlington) (pictured) led Johnson with 18 points including four 3-point field goals.  Freshman Lazrin Schenck (Shelburne, Vt./Champlain Valley Union) added 13 points and classmate Brittany Moody (South Burlington, Vt./South Burlington) chipped in with 11.  Mary Richardson (Brattleboro, Vt./Brattleboro), another rookie, supplied seven points and seven rebounds.

Fitchburg was led by Amy Fahey and her game-high 21 points on 10-13 shooting while also recording six rebounds, five steals, and four assists.  Taylah Ponte notched a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds.  Kelsey Johnston had 12 points and Madeline Merchant and Kelsey Johnston each scored 10.

A Jenessa Swainbank (Enosburg Falls, Vt./Enosburg) jumper made the score 25-19 Fitchburg with 9:01 remaining as the Badgers hung close.  Fahey would score nine points to lead a Falcons 13-2 surge to push the lead to 38-21 with 5:19 left in the first.  Fahey would finish with 17 first half points and help Fitchburg take a 54-28 lead in the break.

Fitchburg would keep Johnson at bay throughout the second and earn a spot in the tournament championship game on Saturday at 3:00 pm.  Fitchburg would earn a significant 60-38 rebounding in the win.  Johnson hit eight 3-pointers at a 42% (8-19) but struggled overall from the field finishing at 27% on the day.

Johnson will face Southern Vermont College in the consolation game on Saturday at 1:00 pm while Fitchburg will play host Curry College in the championship game at 3:00 pm.