By Michael Ingram-Rubin
If you had asked the Fitchburg State women’s basketball team how they thought they would fare this year, not one player would have given the most positive outlook on the season. But now, if you ask anyone, they’ll tell you there’s no question that the Lady Falcons will be making noise this year and possibly for the next two years to come.
The Lady Falcons have had an amazing season thus far, capping off the best start in school history with a 14-1 record. Although their only loss happened to have been one of their three conference games so far, there are much more MASCAC games left to be played and the team can only feel optimistic about what’s in store for the near future.
 “I think the fact that we’re so young and lost so many players from last year, no one really expected us to be good this year,” said sophomore Amy Fahey. “That makes us want to prove everyone wrong, so I guess that drives us to want to work hard and win.”
 Fahey has emerged as one of the Lady Falcons’ key players, averaging a team high 26.5 per game. Game after game, every team throws a new defense at her and she still finds ways to drive by defenders and make her way to the basket. Don’t believe the hype? Ask UMass Boston, where she tallied a school single-game best 39 points; or ask Nichols, where she amassed 34 points shortly after.
Some other key players for the Lady Falcons this season have been senior forward Rebecca Gorham and sophomore guard Laura Cote. Gorham brings a post presence to the team with a season high 196 rebounds as well as a perimeter threat with her outside shooting ability. If there was a ranking for the top fast-break guards in the nation, Cote would definitely be on that list, thanks to her lock-down perimeter defense, quickness, agility, and her 12 points per game.
Meaghan Secino operates as the floor general and when her long-range shot is on point, the sophomore guard is surely in command. Secino also averages 12 points per game for the Lady Falcons.
Head Coach Walter Paschal said he feels good about the team’s progress.
“We had six seniors last season and seven new players this season, so we all had to start over with a clean slate,” he said. “I think our players have made tremendous strides in terms of their effort and willingness to get better every day and buy into the system.”
The next tip-off will be Saturday, Jan. 21 at 1 p.m., against the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts.