Women's Basketball Falls to Framingham State, 70-57

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. – The visiting Bridgewater State University women's basketball team dropped a 70-57 decision to Framingham State University in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) contest on Saturday afternoon.

The host Rams improve to 14-9 on the season and 8-3 in the MASCAC, while the Bears fall to 9-14 overall and 5-5 in conference play.

Sophomore guard Mary Kate O'Day (Berlin, Mass.) recorded a double-double with 18 points and 12 rebounds to lead the way for Framingham State. O'Day also dished out four assists and registered a pair of steals. Junior forward Tiphani Harris (Revere, Mass.) added 16 points and eight boards for the Rams, while sophomore center Julia Sanborn (Dracut, Mass.) notched 11 points and four caroms.

Senior forward Chanelle Melton (Brockton, Mass.) paced the Bears with an game-high 19 points on 8 of 13 shooting to go along with six rebounds and a blocked shot. Melton now has 993 points in her career.

BSU junior forward Kailyn Aguiar (Acushnet, Mass.) posted a double-double with 13 points and a game-high 15 rebounds including nine off the offensive glass. Aguiar also notched a pair of assists and recorded a steal.

The Bears made their first five shots of the game and jumped out to an early 10-5 lead. The Rams, however, outscored the Bears 18-7 over the final 6 ½ minutes of the first quarter to take a 23-17 lead after one.

Bridgewater managed only one free throw over the first five minutes of the second quarter, but also held Framingham to just four points during that span. A Raegan Mulherin (Baldwinville, Mass.) jumper with 4:50 remaining extended the Rams' lead to 11 at 29-18. Framingham would not score again in the period as the Bears closed out the second quarter with a 13-0 run to take a 31-29 lead into the break. Five different players scored during the run led by four points from senior guard Rhiana Page (Brookline, Mass.). The Rams missed five shots and two free throws while also turning the ball over twice during the final 4 ½ minutes of the quarter.

Framingham used an 11-2 run to close out the third quarter to take the lead for good, 52-45, at the end of three quarters of play. The Rams carried the momentum into the final period as a 10-2 spurt to open the fourth gave the hosts a 62-47 advantage with 6:48 left to play. All told, Framingham outscored Bridgewater 21-4 during a seven-minute stretch of the second half. The Bears would get no closer than nine points (65-56 at the 1:41 mark) the rest of the way.

The Rams shot 50% (27-54) for the game and connected on 5 of 13 (39%) three-point field goal attempts. Framingham also went 11-for-17 (65%) at the charity stripe.

The Bears struggled with their shooting throughout the game as they shot just 34% (21-62) from the floor, 14% (2-14) from three-point range and 52% (13-25) at the free throw line. Bridgewater did finish with a 21-10 advantage in offensive rebounds led by Aguiar's nine.