Women's Basketball Falls to Brandeis, 70-64

By Jim Fenton

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- The Bridgewater State University women's basketball team has been riding high this season, getting off to its best start in 13 years.

The Bears put together a seven-game winning streak, upset a nationally ranked opponent to improve to 7-1, and senior captain Kylie Grassi (Plymouth, Mass.) became the program's all-time leading scorer last weekend.

But on Tuesday night, in the final game before the semester break, BSU had that momentum halted.

After holding a 15-point lead in the opening minute of the second half, the Bears, who received votes in both the D3hoop.com and WBCA Division III polls, struggled at the defensive end and were stunned by Brandeis University.

The Judges scored 45 second-half points to overtake BSU, 70-64, at the Tinsley Center, handing the Bears this first loss since an opening-night defeat at Division 1 Bryant University more than four weeks ago.

Brandeis (5-4) prevented BSU coach Bridgett Casey from recording the 400th victory of her career with the Bears.

Casey (399-295 since the 1997-98 season) will get her next opportunity when BSU plays Dickinson College of Carlisle, Pa., at the Puerto Rico Clasico in Caguas on Dec. 28.

The Bears (7-2) held Brandeis to 25 first-half points and led 37-25 at halftime and were in front, 40-25, on a Grassi 3-pointer just 36 seconds into the second half.

But BSU was outscored, 45-24, the rest of the way and the winning streak was snapped.

"Our defense let us down," said Casey. "What got us to 7-1 and the seven-game win streak, our defense has been spot on, but it failed us in the second half.

"Our defense needs to be more consistent and they know that. We didn't defend well today. They came in here and wanted it more than us and they took it."

Grassi was the only BSU player in double figures with 23 points with three 3-pointers. She grabbed five rebounds while playing all 40 minutes. She now has 1,390 career points.

Grassi went 8-for-10 at the free throw line as she broke a tie with Laurie Berryman (1992-96) for the Bears' all-time lead in made free throws. She now has 381 in her career.

Graduate student Kylee Piche (Bridgewater, Mass.) had eight points, seven rebounds, three steals and three assists while senior Arielle Cleveland (Groveland, Mass.) grabbed a team-leading eight rebounds.

Senior Jessica D'Amours (Feeding Hills, Mass.) contributed seven points, four rebounds and three blocks.

Brandeis was led by senior Lulu Olm (Waltham, Mass.) with 17 of her 24 points in the second half. She also had five rebounds and two steals.

Junior Abby Kennedy (Half Moon Bay, Calif.) added 18 points and six rebounds while junior Katherine Vaughn (Bedford, Mass.) had 11 rebounds, eight points and two blocks.

The Judges made 14 of 32 shots in the second half after going 8-for-26 in the opening 20 minutes. They hit 6 of 13 from 3-point range in the second half.

BSU led, 18-13, after one quarter after limiting Brandeis to five field goals, then took the 37-25 lead at the break.

Grassi had 13 of her points in the first half and the Bears were ahead by as many as 14 late in the second quarter before going into the locker room up by 12.

BSU's final double digits lead was 46-35 after two D'Amours foul shots with 6:32 remaining in the third quarter.

The Bears managed just five points the rest of the quarter, all on free throws. They missed eight straight shots after opening that 11-point lead and were behind, 53-51, going into the last quarter.

The defensive woes continued in the last 10 minutes, and the Bears went 5-for-17 from the field.

They opened a 57-53 lead with 7:52 to go on two Lexi Thompson (New Bedford, Mass.) foul shots, but BSU's last lead was 61-59 with 3:28 to go.

After that, the Bears made only one of six shots, a jumper by Grassi, and Ohn hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with 3:09 left, then broke a 62-62 tie with another 3-pointer with 2:23 remaining. She also hit a jumper with 21 seconds left for a five-point bulge.

"We didn't do our job defensively," said Casey. "Our defense has to be consistent. It's very disappointing. You got knocked down (tonight), now more importantly what are you going to do, how are you going to respond?"

In addition to playing Dickinson in Puerto Rico, the Bears will also face Washington University of St. Louis.

Their next home game is Jan. 4 against Smith College.