Bridgewater State Wins MASCAC Tournament

Box Score | Tournament Bracket

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. - The Bridgewater State College women's basketball team captured the program's first MASCAC Tournament Championship as the Bears defeated Salem State College, 63-61, in the tournament title game this afternoon at the Tinsley Center in Bridgewater.

The Bears, who were the top-seed in the tournament, improve their overall record to 22-4 as they will now await the announcement for the NCAA Division III Tournament pairings on Sunday.  Bridgewater, which is making its fifth NCAA Tournament appearance and the first since the '85-86 season, earned the automatic qualifier for the tournament by virtue of winning the conference championship.

BSC has now won eight strait games and fifteen out of their last sixteen. Since losing their opening game to Wentworth, Bridgewater has an impressive 14-game winning streak at home. The Bears' 22 wins this season are also the most in program history since the 1986-87 campaign when the team finished 22-3. 

Salem State (21-6), the second seed in the tournament, will await word on whether they qualify for the national tournament as an at-large selection.

Senior forward Colleen Feeney (Providence, RI) led the Bears notching her 24th double-double of the season with a game-high 21 points to go along with 11 rebounds, while her sister Caitlin Feeney (Providence, RI) added 14 points and 4 assists. Senior Justine Farroba (North Attleboro, MA) chipped in with 10 point, 3 assists, and 3 steals while junior forward Ashley Coucci (Dartmouth, MA) grabbed 9 rebounds for the Bears.

With her 11 boards, Colleen Feeney set the Bears single-season rebounding record with 336 as she passed Cathy Bakers old mark of 331 rebounds which was set in 1985. Feeney is also closing in on three more single-season school records with 153 made free throws (155; Laurie Berryman, 1995-96), 190 made field goals (194; Samantha Curry, 2005-06), and 75 blocked shots (79; Mary Cawley, 1987-88).

The game marked the 105th career game for Caitlin Feeney as she tied the school record that is currently held by JoAnne Runge who played from 1983 to 1987.

Sophomore guard Manise Louinord (Lynn, MA) led the Salem effort with a team-best 14 points and 10 rebounds off the bench while center Danielle Jenkins (Malborough, MA) scored 12 points in 18 minutes of action for the Lady Vikings. Jenkins was one of three Lady Vikings to foul out in the game.

Senior guard Michelle Gosselin (Underhill Center, VT) had a great all-around game with 9 points, 6 rebounds, 2 blocks and 3 steals for the visitors. Louinord and Jenkins each tallied 10 points in the second half while Gosselin scored all 9 of her points in the first stanza.

Salem State out-rebounded Bridgewater 43-37 including 20-14 edge coming off of the offensive glass led by Louinord's game-high 7 offensive boards. The Bears shot at a 40% (19-for-48) clip from the field while the Lady Vikings connected on 36% (22-for-62) of their field goal attempts. Both teams struggled from the foul line as they combined to miss 25 free-throw attempts. 

The biggest lead of the game occurred in the first half when Bridgewater took a 14-8 lead on a basket by Coucci. Salem responded with a 6-0 run to tie the game at 14-14 midway through the first half. This tie would be the first of seven ties throughout the game, including five in the second half. Bridgewater would take a 23-18 advantage with 3:32 to go in the stanza, but the Vikings responded on a pair of free throws and a three-pointer by Gosselin to tie the game 23-23.

Colleen Feeney put BSC up 25-23 with just over a minute to go in the half, but sophomore forward Katie Bielonko (Chicopee, MA) answered with a three-pointer to put Salem up 26-25. The Lady Vikings appeared to be heading to the locker room with a lead, but freshman guard Corey Cuddihy (Scituate, MA) buried a three-pointer with 4.1 seconds left on the clock to give Bridgewater a 28-26 advantage at the half. 

Neither team got up by more than three points in the second half as there were eight lead changes in the final stanza. Bridgewater led 60-58 before Bielonko tied the game with a pair of free-throws at the 3:31 mark. Caitlin Feeney gave the Bears a 62-60 advantage with a driving layup.

Junior center Lauren Wholley (Danvers, MA), who replaced Jenkins, connected on the first of a two-shot foul and Colleen Feeney grabbed the rebound of the missed second shot. Bridgewater missed a three-pointer with time winding down on the shot-clock and Salem took over possession with a chance to take the lead.

The Lady Vikings, however, turned the ball over twice in the final 30 seconds, but still had a shot at redemption because Bridgewater made only one of four free-throw opportunities in the last 15 seconds. Salem had another chance to tie the game with 4.2 seconds left, but a running jump-shot missed the mark giving BSC the 63-61 victory.