By Jim Fenton
BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- Here's a look at the week ahead (Jan. 20-26) for the Bridgewater State University athletics teams:
WEDNESDAY
MEN'S SWIMMING & DIVING, at home, Bentley University, 6:00 PM: The Bears are home for the first time since hosting the BSU Invitational on Dec. 7.
It is the first home dual meet since Oct. 12 against Saint Michael's.
BSU lost to Bentley, 186-89, last season in Waltham.
WOMEN'S SWIMMING & DIVING, at home, Bentley University, 6:00 PM: The Bears are home for a dual meet for the first time since Nov. 15 against UMass Dartmouth.
Bentley defeated BSU, 188-99, last season in Waltham.
MEN'S BASKETBALL, at home, Fitchburg State, 5:30 PM: The Bears swept the season series from the Falcons last season.
Fitchburg State is 4-12, 1-2 in the MASCAC, and has dropped three straight games.
BSU (5-11, 0-4 MASCAC) is looking to end a six-game losing streak.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL, at home, Fitchburg State, 7:30 PM: The Bears have a three-game winning streak going, improving to 10-6 and 2-1 in the MASCAC.
BSU swept a pair of games from the Falcons last season.
Fitchburg State is on a seven-game losing streak and is 3-13, 0-2 in the MASCAC.
FRIDAY
MEN'S TRACK & FIELD, River Hawk Invitational, 9:00 AM: The Bears travel to The Track at New Balance in Boston. The meet is hosted by the University of Massachusetts Lowell.
This is BSU's final meet before the MASCAC Championships on Feb. 16 at Wheaton College.
SATURDAY
WOMEN'S TRACK & FIELD, River Hawk Invitational, 9:00 AM: The Bears are at The Track at New Balance for the last meet before the MASCAC Championships on Feb. 16.
MEN'S SWIMMING & DIVING, at home, Babson College, 1:00 PM: The Bears take part in the final home meet of the season.
BSU lost to Babson, 237-54, last season.
WOMEN'S SWIMMING & DIVING, at home, Babson College, 1:00 PM: BSU wraps up the home portion of the schedule.
The Bears lost to Babson last season, 212-82.
WRESTLING, at Wildcat Open, 9:00 AM: The Bears begin a busy weekend by taking part in a competition hosted by Johnson & Wales in Rhode Island.
MEN'S BASKETBALL, at Westfield State, Noon: The Bears travel to western Massachusetts to face the Owls, who are off to a 14-3 start, including 4-0 in the MASCAC.
Westfield State enters the week with an eight-game winning streak, last losing to Amherst on Dec. 5.
The game concludes the first half of the 12-game MASCAC schedule.
BSU and Westfield State split a pair of games last season.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL, at Westfield State, 2:00 PM: The two teams split a pair of regular-season games last year before BSU ousted the Owls from the MASCAC tournament, 105-94, in the semifinal round.
Westfield State is 3-0 in the MASCAC, 10-5 overall, and has three straight wins. The Owls have gone 6-1 at home.
SUNDAY
WRESTLING: New England Wrestling Association Duals Tournament, 9:30 AM: The Bears return to Johnson & Wales for the annual tournament.
BSU finished 15th in the field a year ago, defeating Plymouth State University after losing to top-seeded Johnson & Wales, Worcester Polytechnic Institute and Norwich.