Women's Basketball Opens MASCAC Play with 62-39 Win Over Fitchburg

FITCHBURG, Mass. -- The Bridgewater State University women's basketball team opened Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) play with a 62-39 victory over Fitchburg State University on Wednesday evening at Parkinson Gymnasium.

The Bears improve to 2-9 (1-0 MASCAC) on the season as they snapped a nine-game losing streak. The Falcons fall to 2-10 (0-1 MASCAC) with their eighth straight setback.

Bridgewater has won 21 of the last 22 meetings of the two teams and 30 of the last 32. The Bears are also 71-17 all-time versus the Falcons since 1983.

Sophomore forward Bridgitt O'Sullivan-Van Etten (Cumberland, R.I.) was the lone Bear in double-digit scoring as she finished with ten points on 5 of 6 shooting. O'Sullivan-Van Etten also added six rebounds, an assist and a steal.

Junior guard Sophie Bradbury (East Bridgewater, Mass.) filled the stat sheet with nine points, six rebounds (two offensive), four assists and five steals, while freshman center Emilie von der Linden (Sanbornville, N.H.) checked in with eight points and five boards (two offensive).

The Bears also received eight points in 15 minutes off the bench from junior guard Emily Quinn (Lancaster, Mass.), as well as seven points apiece off the pine from freshman forward Eva Boudreau (Wilmington, Mass.) and sophomore guard Reese Bartlett (Norwood, Mass.). Boudreau also grabbed five rebounds while Barlett notched four boards.

The Bears opened the game with an 11-2 run highlighted by a trio of three-pointers by freshman guard Savannah Azoff (Sandwich, Mass.), senior guard Haley Burchhardt (Schenectady, N.Y.) and Bradbury.

Bridgewater scored the final seven points of the first quarter and the first 15 points of the second period to take a commanding 37-7 lead.

Fitchburg was held scoreless in the second quarter until freshman guard Erin McNamara (Leominster, Mass.) knocked down a pair of free throws with just 16 seconds remaining in the session to make it a 37-9 game at the break.

The Falcons got no closer than 22 points (58-36) in the second half. Fitchburg held a 15-10 scoring advantage in the third quarter while the fourth quarter was played to a 15-15 draw.

Freshman guard Kyelah Smith (Bloomfield, Conn.) paced the Falcons with ten points and five rebounds while junior guard Monet Augmon (New London, Conn.) contributed nine points, three rebounds, and assist in two steals in 20 minutes off the bench. McNamara finished with eight points in 14 minutes off the pine.

The BSU defense limited the Falcons to 29.2% (14-48) shooting for the game. Bridgewater shot 39.3% (24-61) from the floor.

The Bears and the Falcons combined to make just 9 of 49 (18.4%) shots from behind the arc. Bridgewater finished with 22 turnovers while Fitchburg committed 21 miscues.

Fitchburg also struggled at the free throw line converting just 7 of 22 (31.8%) attempts at the line. Bridgewater went 9-for-13 (69.2%) at the stripe.

The MASCAC schedule continues on Saturday at noon as the Bears host Salem State University while the Falcons entertain Framingham State University.