Bears Outlast Falcons in MASCAC Match-up

Fitchburg, Mass.  – The Fitchburg State women's basketball team fell 91-58 to the Bears of Bridgewater State in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) action on Saturday afternoon at Parkinson Gymnasium.

The Basics

Score: Fitchburg State 58, Bridgewater State 91
Records: Fitchburg State (3-14, 1-4 MASCAC) | Bridgewater State (14-4, 5-0 MASCAC)

How It Happened
1st quarter

Fitchburg State raced out to a 6-2 on a layup from Juliana Davis (Templeton, Mass.) and four points from Stephanie Hart (Ayer, Mass.). The Bears connected on a three-pointer from Sophia Gaucher (Lakeville, Mass.) to even the game at 6-6. Knotted at 12-12 the Falcons' finished the frame with a 6-2 run which included a trey from Allison Prentis (Mansfield, Mass.) and a lay-in from Davis to hold an 18-14 lead after one.

2^nd quarter
The Falcons extended the advantage (21-14) as sophomore Rylie Harlow (Hanson, Mass.) connected on a three-ball. Bridgewater would respond with a pair of three-pointers from Kylie Grassi (Plymouth, Mass.) and Gaucher and take the lead (29-28) with a trey from Eryn Rice (Medway, Mass.). Trailing 36-31 the Green and Gold responded with back-to-back three-point shots from Harlow and Caileen Hurley (Whitman, Mass.) to regain the lead (37-36) however the Bears notched six unanswered to close out the frame.

3^rd quarter

Newcomer Kathryn Hart (Ayer, Mass.) opened the third quarter with a pair of buckets for the Green and Gold but the Bears countered with six points from Arielle Cleveland (Groveland, Mass.) to forge ahead 55-41. With 2:54 to play Stephanie Hart hit a jumper to keep the game close (60-49). The Bears closed out the quarter with an 8-2 run.

4th quarter

Senior Sydney Bradbury (East Bridgewater, Mass.) knocked down three-pointer for the Bears to start the final frame. Harlow hit a jumper and Olivia Almeida (Wilmington, Mass.) connected from downtown before Emma Fenton (Monument Beach, MA) finished the game with six points resulting in the final score.

Inside the Numbers

• Harlow paced the Falcons with 13 points, 6 rebounds, a steal, and a block, while both Kathryn and Stephanie Hart chipped in with 9 points each.
• For the Bears, Grassi had a game-high 18 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 steals.
• Bridgewater shot 31-for-81 (38.3%) from the field and (11-for-32) 34.4% from three-point range
• Fitchburg State finished 22-for-55 (40%) overall and (9-for-19) 47.4% for beyond the arc
• The Bears held a 51-36 advantage on the boards

Up Next

Falcons return to action on Wednesday when they travel to Westfield State to take on the Owls in a MASCAC clash starting at 7:30 PM.