Bridgewater, Mass.-Senior guard Cara Paladino (Arlington, MA) led five Anchorwomen in double-figure scoring with 16 points to lead the visiting Rhode Island College women's basketball team to a 74-61 victory over Bridgewater State University on Tuesday evening at the Tinsley Center in non-conference action.

Along with her 16 points, Paladino notched seven rebounds and a pair of blocked shots for Rhode Island College (2-2). Sophomore forward Vandell Andrade (Providence, RI) added 14 points on 6-of-8 shooting to go along with seven boards, two blocks and two steals. Sophomore guard Danielle LeBlanc (Warwick, RI) chipped in with 13 points, including 12 in the first half.

Senior forward Megan Boutilette (Charlton, MA) paced the host Bears with a game-high 17 points and nine rebounds, as well as three assists, two blocks and a steal.  Senior guard Jenna Williamson (Ludlow, MA), younger sister of Rhode Island College Head Coach Kara Williamson, added 11 points, including the 1,000th of her career.

The Anchorwomen scored the first nine points of the contest and led, 11-3, early in the first half. The Bears responded with a 12-4 run, capped off by a Williamson three-pointer, to knot the game at 15-15. Clinging to a six-point lead (34-28) as the clock ticked down to four minutes remaining in the opening stanza, the Anchorwomen would close out the half on a 9-3 run to take a commanding, 46-31, advantage into the intermission.

RIC shot 53 percent (18-for-34) from the floor over the opening 20 minutes and forced 14 first half turnovers, which led to 16 of the Anchorwomen's 46 points.

Rhode Island College would maintain at least a seven-point cushion for most of the second half and led, 61-48, with 8:48 left to play. Bridgewater State would use a 9-2 spurt to pull to within six, 63-57, with 4:15 to go.  The Bears, however, managed just one free throw over their next six offensive possessions to stall the comeback effort.  The Anchorwomen would outscore the Bears, 11-4, over the final three minutes to pull away for the victory.

Senior guard Stephanie Prusko (Lincoln, RI) and sophomore guard Michelle Lagrotteria (Niantic, CT) also finished in double-figure scoring for RIC with 13 and 11 points, respectively, as the Anchorwomen starters combined to score 66 of the team's 74 points.

Senior guard Colleen Hanson (Melrose, MA) added 11 points, five rebounds and two steals for the Bears.

Field goal percentages were fairly close over the course of the game with RIC shooting 42 percent (26-for-62) from the floor and the Bears connecting on 44 percent (24-for-55) of their shots.

RIC, however, won the turnover battle as the Bears committed 23 miscues compared to just 14 for the visitors.  The Anchorwomen also made 11 more trips to the charity stripe, connecting on 75 percent (18-for-24) of their attempts from the line. BSU shot 69 percent (9-for-13) from the free throw line.  

In upcoming action, Rhode Island College will travel to Roger Williams on Sunday, Dec. 1 (4 p.m.).