By Jim Fenton
BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- Here's a look at the week ahead (Dec. 8-14) for the Bridgewater State University athletics teams:
WEDNESDAY
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL, at Brandeis University, 5:00 PM: The Bears travel to Waltham, Mass., to face the Judges at Red Auerbach Arena.
BSU is on a four-game losing streak to drop to 1-4 while Brandeis is 7-1, winning seven in a row before losing to Tufts University, 67-62, last week.
Last season, the Bears had a 15-point lead over the Judges early in the second half before losing, 70-64, at home.
MEN'S BASKETBALL, at home, Emerson College, 6:00 PM: The Bears (1-7) will looking to break a three-game losing streak in their final game before having more than two weeks off.
BSU lost to Emerson, 101-98, in Boston last season, trimming a 19-point second-half deficit to three before falling.
Emerson, coached by former Boston College standout and ex-NBA player Bill Curley, is off to a 4-3 start with three straight wins.
The Bears will not be home again until facing Salem State on Jan. 10.
FRIDAY
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL, at home, Eastern Connecticut State, 7:00 PM: The Bears play their final game until traveling to Las Vegas, Nev., for a pair of games Dec. 28 and 30.
BSU defeated Eastern Connecticut State, 79-74, in the semifinal round of the Cave Classic last season. That was the first meeting between the teams since 2015.
The Warriors are off to a 3-6 start. BSU will next play at home on Jan. 10, hosting Salem State.
SATURDAY
WRESTLING, at the Scott Viera Open, 9:00 AM: The Bears conclude the first semester portion of the scheduled with a trip to Roger Williams University in Bristol, R.I.
At last year's tournament, Christian Curley (Bridgewater, Mass.) reached the championship round at 197 pounds for the Bears while Michael Hopkins was third at 174 pounds.
BSU will be idle until a Jan. 10 home tri-meet with Wesleyan and Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
WOMEN'S TRACK & FIELD, at the Mini Meet, 10:00 AM: The Bears finish 2025 with a trip to Boston University for their second meet of the season.
A year ago, Kiara Abrantes (Somerset, Mass.) won the 400-meter race with a school-record time of 56.65 seconds and Naomi Cass (Westport, Mass.) also placed first in the 3,000-meter race.
MEN'S TRACK & FIELD, at the Mini Meet, 10:00 AM: The Bears are at Boston University to wrap up the first semester part of their season.
Kevin McBirney (East Bridgewater, Mass.) won the mile at this event a year ago to lead BSU.