Women's Basketball Downs MASCAC Foe Fitchburg State, 104-81

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – Five players finished in double-figures led by 19 points apiece by senior guard Elisha Homich (Ludlow, Mass.) and junior guard Jenna Williamson (Ludlow, Mass.) as the Bridgewater State University Bears downed visiting Fitchburg State University, 104-81, in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) women's basketball action on Saturday afternoon at the Tinsley Center.

The Bears, who were one-point shy of the team's single-game scoring mark, improve to 15-3 on the season and 6-1 in the MASCAC.  The Falcons slip to 9-10 overall and 2-5 in conference play.

Homich, who was 4-for-8 from three-point range and 5-for-5 add the line, added four rebounds, four assists and five steals.  Williamson notched five boards, four assists and a pair of steals as she knocked down 3 of 7 three-pointers and finished 6-for-7 at the charity stripe.

Senior forward Michaela Cosby (Walpole, Mass.) added 18 points, three steals and a game-high six assists for the Bears, while junior forward Megan Boutilette (Charlton, Mass.) posted a double-double with ten points and a game-best 13 boards to go along with three assists and five steals.  Junior guard Colleen Hanscom (Melrose, Mass.) chipped in with 14 points, five assists and three steals.

Bridgewater took command of the game during the closing minutes of the first half and the opening stages of the second.  The Bears ended the first stanza on a 10-run, capped off by a buzzer-beating layup by sophomore forward Alana Watkins (Wareham, Mass.), to take a 49-37 lead into the intermission.  BSU then used a 13-2 run over the first three minutes of the second half to up the advantage to 23 (62-39).  Watkins finished with eight points, two boards, two assists and two steals in 20 minutes off the bench.

Fitchburg would get no close than 20 points the rest of the way as the Bears got up by as many as 30 (86-56) before settling for the 23-point win.

Junior guard Laura Cote (Ashby, Mass.) paced the visitors with 20 points off the bench as she finished 9-for-11 from the floor.  Freshman guard Andrea DeSousa (Taunton, Mass.) added 13 points also off the bench, while freshman forward Megan Wodzinski (Littleton, Mass.) notched 12 points, seven rebounds and five assists.

Bridgewater shot 46% (33-for-72) from the floor for the game including 11-for-24 (46%) from behind the arc. The Bears also held a 42-37 rebounding advantage, including a 19-11 edge on the offensive glass, and outscored the Falcons at the free throw line, 27-7.   The story of the game, however, was the BSU defensive pressure as the Bears' forced 35 turnovers, thanks in large part to 24 steals, and transitioned those miscues into 52 points.  The Falcons shot the ball well, converting 54% (33-for-61) of their field goal attempts.  

In upcoming action, the Bears entertain MASCAC foe Framingham State University on Tuesday evening at 5:30.  The Falcons are off until next Saturday afternoon when they travel to Framingham State to take on the Rams at one.