(Nashua, N.H.) Senior Kaylee Kacavas (Dracut, Mass.) led all scorers with 34 points but the Rivier University Women's Basketball team dropped their 2018-19 season opener, 85-71 to visiting Fitchburg State University inside the Muldoon Gymnasium on Thursday evening.

Kacavas shot 10-23 from the field to pace the offensive attack for Rivier (0-1) while connecting on 13-of-15 from the line. Junior Elizabeth Meehan (Nashua, N.H.) notched a double-double as she netted 12 points and pulled down 12 rebounds. Senior Megan Hamel (Colebrook, N.H.) recorded the game-high with 14 rebounds and scored seven points in the loss.

Junior Catherine Coppinger (Boston, Mass.) hit double figures as she guided the Falcons (1-0) with 18 points and 13 rebounds. Fellow junior Emma Thomson (York, Maine) was the overall point leader with 22 on 8-of-13 from the floor while classmate Angelina Marazzi finished with 15 points and six rebounds. Sophomore Payton Holmes (Carver, Mass.) registered seven points in a reserve effort in the win for Fitchburg State.

Rivier will remain on the Muldoon hardwood as they host the University of Maine-Presque Isle on Saturday evening at 5:30pm in their next scheduled contest. The Falcons, meanwhile, will travel to Clark University on Wednesday, November 14th for a 6pm contest.