Women's Basketball Posts 69-65 MASCAC Win Over Worcester State

By Jim Fenton

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- The Bridgewater State University women's basketball team has responded to a five-game losing streak with three straight victories.

The Bears held off Worcester State University, 69-65, at the Tinsley Center on Saturday afternoon, improving to 10-6 and 2-1 in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference.

After opening the season 7-1 with seven wins in a row, BSU dropped five consecutive games, including the MASCAC opener against Salem State University.

But since that home loss to the Vikings on Jan. 8, the Bears have defeated Framingham State, Wheaton College and now the Lancers (7-9, 1-2).

BSU held a 12-point lead early in the fourth quarter against Worcester State, which rallied to move in front by a point in the final minute.

But the Bears received a clutch 3-pointer by sophomore Sophie Bradbury (East Bridgewater, Mass.) with 43 seconds left to take the lead for good.

"It's coming together a little bit," said coach Bridgett Casey. "We're not totally where we were defensively from when we won seven in a row, but good things are happening.

"We just have to fine-tune some stuff and fix some stuff."

Senior Kylie Grassi (Plymouth, Mass.), the program's all-time leading scorer, had 21 points, seven rebounds and three assists while playing all 40 minutes for BSU. Grassi now has 1,499 career points.

Senior Jessica D'Amours (Feeding Hills, Mass.) added 13 points before fouling out in the fourth quarter.

Graduate student Kylee Piche (Bridgewater, Mass.) added 10 points, 10 assists and three steals as the Bears improved to 8-3 at home. The double-double marked the first of Piche's career.

Sophomore Hannah Lomonaco (Northbridge, Mass.) scored 18 points and had six assists for the Lancers while senior Katie Hurynowicz (Tyngsboro, Mass.) scored 18 points with five rebounds and five assists.

Also in double figures was sophomore Lena Waldron (Quincy, Mass.) with 13 points and four assists in 40 minutes.

The Bears had the ball moving on offense with eight players registering at least one assist.

"I think the biggest stat for me as a coach is 22 assists to seven turnovers for us," said Casey. "Just a solid job. We moved the ball and assisted each other. The ball moved really well, but there were still times of too many one pass and quick shots in key situations and it's a long rebound and they're off and running."

After leading, 25-23, at halftime, the Bears opened a 47-39 lead going into the fourth quarter.

They finished the third quarter on an 11-3 run in the final 3:20 with Grassi and Pichee each scoring four points and Bradbury connecting on a 3-pointer with three seconds to go.

BSU took its biggest lead of the day at 51-39 with 9:06 to play on two Grassi foul shots and a layup by D'Amours made it 55-46 with 6:24 remaining.

But Worcester State scored the next nine points to pull even at 55, a 3-pointer by senior Abby St. Martin (Putnam, Conn.) tying the game with four minutes to play.

Grassi, senior Arielle Cleveland (Groveland, Mass.) and junior Mairead Gallagher (Bridgewater, Mass.) scored on layups for a 61-59 BSU lead with 1:38 left.

Worcester State went in front when Lomanco hit a free throw with 1:26 left and then scored on a layup with 47 seconds remaining, making it 62-61.

That's when Bradbury, a transfer from UMass Boston, hit the 3-pointer from the left to put BSU in front for good.

"Huge shot," said Casey. "She's capable of that. She has deep range. She's coming back from injury and getting her game legs back.

"As we get further into the MASCAC is when we'll really start to see her shooting."

Gallagher hit two foul shots for a 66-62 lead, but Hurynowicz made a 3-pointer with 21 seconds to go, cutting BSU's lead to 66-65.

The Bears sealed it with two Piche free throws and one by Grassi to go with solid defense.

Worcester State held a 16-11 lead after one quarter, but BSU limited the Lancers to seven points in the second quarter for the halftime lead.

There were six lead changes and three ties in the half, and neither team led by more than five points.

The victory improves Casey's record at BSU to 402-299, tying her with retired men's basketball coach Joe Farroba (402-365) for third place on the all-time wins list by a Bridgewater State coach.

Retired baseball coach Rick Smith is the all-time leader, going 550-376-5, while former softball coach Dee Dee Enabenter is second at 429-153-3.

BSU is home again on Wednesday night to face Fitchburg State University at 7:30 p.m.

Worcester State will travel to nationally ranked Wesleyan on Monday for a 6 p.m. non-conference game.