SALEM, Mass. -- Senior guard Rachel Kusz (Worcester, Mass.) registered a career-high 23 points to lead the visiting Bridgewater State University women's basketball team to a 61-49 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) victory over Salem State University on Saturday afternoon at Twohig Gymasium.
The Bears improve to 11-7 on the season and 5-1 in the MASCAC with their third straight win, while the host Vikings slip to 2-14 overall and 0-5 in conference play.
Kusz drained a career-best six three-pointers and went 5-for-7 from the free throw line to account for her 23 points. She also recorded two steals.
Senior guard Melissa Daigle (Rockland, Mass.) added 12 points for the Bears on 3 of 6 shooting from behind the arc, while also recording four rebounds and a pair of steals. Junior guard Vanesa Conceicao (New Bedford, Mass.) contributed nine points, four rebounds and four assists, while senior forwardMegan Boutilette (Charlton, Mass.) chipped in with eight points, nine boards, four assists and two steals.
Senior guard Rachael Carter (Merrimack, N.H.) paced the Vikings with 18 points and 12 rebounds as she recorded her 12th double-double of the season. Sophomore forwardMalissa Saad (Worcester, Mass.) added 11 points on 4 of 6 shooting to go along with four rebounds and a pair of assists.
The Bears used runs of 14-2 and 11-2 to outscore the Vikings 25-8 over the final 14 minutes of the first half. Bridgewater would take a 36-16 lead into the break led by 12 first-half points from Kusz and eight by Daigle as the pair combined to go 6-for-11 from behind the arc.
Bridgewater maintained a double-digit advantage throughout most of the second half. Leading 54-39 with five minutes remaining, the Bears went cold going 0-for-6 from the floor and missing five straight free throws over the next 4 1/2 minutes.
A pair of jumpers by Saad sandwiched around a Carter layu-up pulled the Vikings to within nine at 54-45 with 1:32 remaning. A pair of free throws by Carter with 22 seconds left cut the deficit to 55-47. The Bears, however, would go 6-for-8 from the line the rest of the way to secure the win.
Three-point shooting would ultimately provide the difference on the scoreboard as the Bears went 10-for-29 (35%) from behind the arc, while the Vikings finished 0-for-8. The BSU defense forced 22 turnovers which led to a 20-10 advantage in points off turnovers. Sophomore forward Chanelle Melton (Brockton, Mass.) led all players with four steals.
The Bears are off until next Saturday afternoon when they host MASCAC foe MCLA at one. The Vikings travel to North Adams on Tuesday evening to take on the same Trailblazers at 5:30.