By Jim Fenton
BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- Here's a look at the week ahead (Dec. 9 to Dec. 15) for the Bridgewater State University athletics teams:
TUESDAY
MEN'S BASKETBALL, at Emerson College, 5:00 PM: The Bears (4-4) play their final game before the holiday break, traveling to the Bobbi Brown and Steven Plofker Gym to face the Lions.
BSU has dropped two straight games, allowing at least 90 points in each loss.
Emerson is off to a 5-3 start, including 1-1 in the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference. The Lions have defeated two Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference opponents, Worcester State and Salem State.
Emerson is coached by former NBA first-round draft pick Bill Curley, a standout at Duxbury High and Boston College.
The Bears and Lions have split the last four games since 2017.
BSU will be playing the first of three straight road games, the next one taking place on Dec. 30 at Salve Regina University.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL, Brandeis University, at home, 6:00 PM: The Bears look to improve on a seven-game winning streak after defeating nationally ranked UMass Dartmouth last Saturday afternoon.
Kylie Grassi scored 30 points and became the Bears' all-time leading scorer in the victory over the Corsairs.
BSU (7-1) has not lost since dropping the opener at Division 1 Bryant University. The Bears are playing their seventh consecutive home game when they face the Judges (4-4).
The Bears and the Judges are meeting for the fourth straight yet but also just the fourth time in the long history of the two programs. The previous three games were all decided by one point with BSU winning the first two.
Last year, BSU led Brandeis by 18 points in the third quarter and by nine points with 3:24 remaining before losing, 80-79, in the closing seconds.
The Judges are coming off a 67-59 win over MIT.
BSU coach Bridgett Casey will be attempting to secure her 400th career victory. Casey is 399-294 since becoming the head coach in 1997.
The Bears' next game after this takes place on Dec. 28 at the Puerto Rico Clasico in San Juan against Dickinson.
SATURDAY
WRESTLING, At the Scott Viera Open, 9:00 AM: The Bears travel to Roger Williams University in Rhode Island for the annual tournament.
Last season, BSU's Malcolm Chrispin (Hyde Park, Mass.) was first in the 133-pound division.
The Bears will be off after this competition until Jan. 11 when they travel to Worcester for a tri-meet with Worcester Polytechnic Institute and Wesleyan.
Men's Indoor Track & Field, At the Mini Meet at Boston University, 10:00 AM: The Bears take part in their second meet of the season as they head to the BU Track & Tennis Center on Saturday.
Women's Indoor Track & Field, At the Mini Meet at Boston University, 10:00 AM: The Bears take part in their second meet of the season as they head to the BU Track & Tennis Center on Saturday.