BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – Four players finished in double-figure scoring as the Bridgewater State University women's basketball team cruised to an 85-60 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) victory over visiting Fitchburg State University on Wednesday night at the Tinsley Center.
The host Bears improve to 5-9 on the season and 1-1 in the MASCAC, while the Falcons fall to 5-6 overall and 0-2 in conference play. The 85 points marked a season-high for Bridgewater State.
Junior forward Rhiana Page (Brookline, Mass.) and freshman guard Nicole Bostick (Bridgewater, Mass.) paced the hosts with 15 points apiece, while senior guard Chelsea Saucier (Portland, Maine) filled the stat sheet with 14 points, two rebounds, a game-high six assists, two blocked shots and a game-high five steals. Page was 7 for-10 from the floor and added four rebounds, while Bostick went 5-for-8 from behind the arc in 22 minutes off the bench.
BSU freshman forward Kayla Carter (Hamilton, Mass.) chipped in with double-double totals of ten points and ten rebounds in 19 minutes off the bench. The double-double marked Carter's first of her collegiate career.
The Bears dominated the first half as they outscored the Falcons, 42-15, over the first 20 minutes. Saucier was impressive as she scored all 14 of her points on perfect 4 of 4 shooting including a pair of three-pointers. She also went 4-for-4 at the line, dished out three assists, blocked a shot and forced three turnovers. Page added 11 points on 5 of 7 shooting.
Bridgewater shot 44% (15-31) in the first half including 4-for-12 (33%) from behind the arc. The Bears also went 8-for-10 at the free throw line.
BSU's defensive pressure limited the Falcons to four field goals and the Bears forced 12 turnovers over the first two quarters. Fitchburg converted just 4 of 26 (15%) field goal attempts and went 1-for-12 (8%) from behind the arc in the first half. The Falcons also made just 6 of 13 (46%) free throws.
The game was all but decided for all intents and purposes as the Falcons never threatened in the second half.
The Bears got up by as many as 39 points in the second half (71-32 with 40 seconds remaining in the third quarter), before settling for the 25-point win.
Eleven different players put points on the scoreboard for Bridgewater State as the BSU bench, led by Bostick and Carter, outscored the Fitchburg reserves, 41-8.
Freshman forward Kyra Rose (Rockland, Mass.) finished with game-high totals of 31 points and 16 rebounds to lead the way for the Falcons. Most of the damage was done in the second half as she tallied 24 points and 11 boards after the intermission. Rose connected on 8 of 18 field goal attempts and went 15-for-18 from the line.
Freshman guard Emma Thompson (York, Maine) added 17 points on 5 of 13 shooting from three-point range for the Falcons. Fourteen of Thompson's 17 points came in the second half.
Bridgewater shot 51% (31-61) from the floor for the game including 13-for-24 (54%) from behind the arc. The Bears held the Falcons to 28% (17-61) shooting. After struggling from the charity stripe in the opening 20 minutes, Fitchburg was a perfect 14-for-14 at the line in the second half.
The MASCAC schedule continues for both teams on Saturday afternoon at three. The Bears travel to Salem State University, while the Falcons head to Worcester State University.