By Jim Fenton
BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- Here's a look at the week ahead (Jan. 13-19) for the Bridgewater State University athletics teams:
MONDAY
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL, at home, Wheaton College, 7:00 PM: The Bears (8-6) play their final non-conference game of the season, hosting the Lyons (4-9) at the Tinsley Center.
BSU will play seven Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference games over the final 4 1/2 weeks of the regular season.
The Bears and Lyons are playing for the fourth consecutive season. The teams had not met prior to that since being matched up in 2011 at the Williams Winter Classic.
BSU has defeated Wheaton the past three seasons, including an 86-65 road win a year ago.
Bridgewater holds an 8-6 lead in the all-time series.
WEDNESDAY
MEN'S SWIMMING & DIVING, at Eastern Connecticut State University, 1:00 PM: The Bears will be competing for the first time since the BSU Invitational on Dec. 7.
A year ago, the Bears defeated the Warriors, 118-87, placing first in eight of the 11 events.
WOMEN'S SWIMMING & DIVING, at Eastern Connecticut State University, 1:00 PM: The Bears travel to the Sports Center Pool in Willimantic, Conn., for their first meet in more than five weeks.
The Warriors are the defending Little East Conference champions, winning their first crown last February with BSU placing second.
The Bears edged Eastern Connecticut State, 117-114, during the regular season a year ago.
MEN'S BASKETBALL, at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, 5:00 PM: The Bears (5-9) seek to end a four-game losing streak as they bid for a first win in 2025.
The Trailblazers are 2-12 and even with BSU at 0-2 in the MASCAC with losses to Westfield State and Fitchburg State.
The teams split the season series last year, each team winning on the road.
Bridgewater is 35-8 versus MCLA over the last 21 seasons.
SATURDAY
MEN'S SWIMMING & DIVING, tri-meet at Keene State, Noon: The Bears are in New Hampshire to face the host Owls and Brandeis University.
Last season, BSU swept the meet held at Brandeis with wins of 139.5-117.5 over the host team and 152-125 over Keene State.
WOMEN'S SWIMMING & DIVING, tri-meet at Keene State, Noon: BSU defeated Keene State for the first time since 2006 when they met in a tri-meet last season, 158-139.
The Bears lost to host Brandeis, 158-128, when the teams met in a tri-meet a year ago.
MEN'S TRACK & FIELD, at the Branwen Smith-King Invitational, 10:00 AM: The Bears travel to Tufts University for a meet.
This will be BSU's next-to-last competition before the MASCAC Championships take place at Wheaton College on Feb. 16.
WOMEN'S TRACK & FIELD, at the Branwen Smith-King Invitational, 10:00 AM: The Bears travel to Tufts University for a meet at the Gantcher Family Sports and Convocation Center in Medford.
MEN'S BASKETBALL: at home, Worcester State, Noon: A rematch of the 2024 MASCAC tournament championship games takes place at the Tinsley Center.
BSU was edged by the Lancers, 80-79, in overtime with a bid in the NCAA Division III tournament on the line last winter.
During the regular season, the teams each won at home. This starts a stretch where the Bears play three of four games at home.
Worcester State is 4-10 and 1-0 in the conference.
Worcester has won nine of the last ten meetings of the two teams. Bridgewater holds a 72-46 advantage in the all-time series which dates back to 1954.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL, at home, Worcester State, 2:00 PM: The Bears will have Alumni Day as they open a three-game homestand against the Lancers (6-7, 1-0 conference).
BSU has won each of the last seven meetings of the two teams. The Bears also hold a 62-41 advantage in the all-time series.
WRESTLING, at home, Williams College, 1:00 PM: The Bears are home for the first time since a Nov. 16 loss to Western New England University.
BSU lost in its last meeting with Williams, 37-5, on Jan. 15, 2022. Williams was ranked No. 5 in the most recent New England Wrestling Association (NEWA) Team Tournament Ranking.