Women's Basketball Posts 72-60 Win over Colorado College

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- Senior guard Rachel Kusz (Worcester, Mass.) tallied a career-high 19 points to lead the Bridgewater State University women's basketball team to a 72-60 victory over visiting Colorado College on Saturday evening at the Tinsley Center.  

The game marked the home opener for the Bears who improve to 3-1 on the young season. The visiting Tigers slip to 0-4 overall.

Kusz connected on 6 of 11 field goal attempts, including 3-for-6 from three-point range, and was 4-for-5 from the free throw line. She also added three rebounds, four assists and three steals.

Sophomore forward Chanelle Melton (Brockton, Mass.) chipped in with 16 points, six rebounds and a pair of steals, while classmate Jennie Lindland (Edgartown, Mass.) added 11 points, five board and a game-high five steals.  Melton was 5-for-6 from the floor and a perfect 6-for-6 at the line.

Junior forward Danielle Davis (Boxford, Mass.) paced the Tigers with 15 points, eight rebounds, and three steals. Senior guard Courtney Tyus (Thornton, Colo.) notched 14 points and a game-high six assists, while sophomore forward Korbyn Ukasick (Windsor, Colo.) added 11 points and eight boards.

Bridgewater led throughout most of the game and held a 32-27 advantage at the break.  

The Bears built the lead up to 17 points (51-34) in the second half thanks to the hot shooting over Kusz who scored 13 of her 19 points over the first seven minutes of the stanza.

Colorado, however, would respond with a 15-4 run to cut the deficit to 55-49 with 7:31 left on the clock.

A big three-point play by Vanesa Conceicao (New Bedford, Mass.) at the 6:07 mark and a Lindland free throw at 4:45 pushed the BSU lead back up to ten (61-51).

Following a short jumper by Tyus, Kusz converted a three-point play on driving baseline layup to push the advantage to 64-53 with 3:34 remaining.  The  Bears would coast from there as they were a perfect 6-for-6 from the charity stripe over the final three minutes.

For the game, Bridgewater shot 45% (26-58) from the floor and 77% (17-22) at the free throw line.  The Bears forced 25 turnovers and held the Tigers to 39% (24-62) shooting.

Colorado held a 40-36 rebounding advantage including a 15-9 edge on the offensive glass.

In upcoming action, the Bears travel to Rhode Island College to take on the Anchorwomen on Tuesday evening at 5:30.  The Tigers host St. Olaf College on Wednesday night at six.