Women's Basketball Opens 2023-2024 Campaign with 87-64 Setback to Babson

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – The visiting Babson College women's basketball team cruised to an 87-64 victory over Bridgewater State University on Tuesday night at the Tinsley Center.

The Beavers improve to 1-1 on the year while the game marked the season-opened for the host Bears (0-1).

Four players finished in double-figure scoring for Babson led by junior guard Katleyn Mollica (Foxborough, Mass.) who notched 15 points to go along with three rebounds and a pair of assists. Junior guard Abby Miller (Millis, Mass.) checked in with 14 points, two rebounds, four assists and a steal while sophomore forward Chloe Perreault (Danbury, Conn.) notched 13 points and eight boards as well as two assists and a blocked shot. Sophomore guard Claire McCarthy (Dorchester, Mass.) added ten points for the visitors in nine minutes of the bench.

Junior forward Kylie Grassi (Plymouth, Mass.) paced Bridgewater State with a game-high 24 points (16 in the second half)  on 9 of 15 shooting including 3-for-5 from three-point range. Grassi also registered three steals and a block.

Senior guard Sydney Bradbury (East Bridgewater, Mass.) contributed 11 points, two rebounds, two assists, a steal and a block for the Bears while senior forward Sophia Gaucher (Lakeville, Mass.) registered ten points six boards and a block.

The Beavers led 39-28 at the break. Babson shot 41.7% over the first 20 minutes, including 5-for-15 (33%) from behind the arc, and limited the Bears to 37.5% (9-24) shooting. The Beavers also held a 9-2 edge on the offensive glass which led to a 7-0 advantage in second chance points.

Miller scored 12 points in the first half to while Mollica tallied ten. Grassi paced Bridgewater State with eight points over the first 20 minutes.

Babson put the game out of reach with a dominant third quarter. The Beavers went 11-for-22 from the floor and 4-for-6 from three-points range as they outscored the Bears 28-15 in the period to take a 67-42 lead into the fourth quarter. Babson got up by as many as 32 points in the final period.

Babson shot 47.1% (33-70) for the game, 44% (11-25) from long range and 83.3% (10-12) at the free throw line. The Beavers held a 41-29 rebounding advantage (11-5 offensive) as well as a 36-22 edge in points in the paint.

Bridgewater finished with shooting percentages of 35.7% (20-56) from the floor, 33.3% (7-21) from three-point land and 77.3% (17-22) at the stripe.

BSU freshman guard Emily Quinn (Lancaster, Mass.) notched six points, a pair of rebounds and a steal in 22 minutes off the bench in her collegiate debut.

Notes: Babson is 19-4 all-time against Bridgewater State in a series that dates back to 1988. The Beavers have won their last four games against the Bears although last year's matchup was the first between the teams since the opening round of the 2012 NCAA Tournament. The two teams met in 16 consecutive seasons from 1993 to 2008.