Women's Basketball Notches 76-71 Triumph Over Bridgewater State

Bridgewater, MA --- Junior Meaghan Burns (W. Brookfield, MA) scored a team-best 16 points, and senior Meaghan O'Keefe (Warren, MA) posted her 11th double-double of the season with 14 points and 19 rebounds, to lead the visiting Lancers of Worcester State to a 76-71 victory over Bridgewater State in MASCAC women's basketball action at the Tinsley Center.

The Lancers, who overcame a 17-point first half deficit, evens their overall record at 9-9 with the win and remain unbeaten in conference play with a perfect 5-0 mark.  The Bears fall to 12-3 on the season and 3-1 in the MASCAC as the Bears' six-game winning streak comes to an end.

BSU senior Elisha Homich (Ludlow, MA) paced the hosts with a career-high 27 points to go along with seven rebounds, five assists, four blocked shots and three steals. Junior Colleen Hanscom (Melrose, MA) added ten points, four boards, three assists and five steals.

Worcester State senior Kara Rogers (Lowell, MA) also chipped in with 10 points on a 4-of-6 performance from the floor as she added five dishes and four swipes.

Bridgewater State used a 9-0 run late in the first half to open up a commanding 39-22 lead with 2:03 remaining in the stanza. The Bears, however, had a chance to open up a larger lead but missed three shots and did not take advantage of two Lancer turnovers in the final two minutes while also giving up three offensive rebounds.

The third offensive board for the Blue and Gold led to an O'Keefe traditional three-point play with 23 seconds remaining as the teams headed to the intermission with the Bears leading by 14 (39-25).

Worcester State took the momentum into the second half and completely dominated play over the first 12 minutes of the period, outscoring the Bears 32-8 over that span.  Burns scored 14 of her 16 points during that time frame including, at one point she tallied four straight baskets.

Trailing 70-60 with 1:12 remaining, the Bears used a quick 8-1 spurt over the next 39 seconds capped off by a Homich three-pointer to pull to within three points at 71-68.  

The Lancers, however, knocked down 5 of 6 attempts from the charity stripe in the final 30 second while the Bears missed two critical free throws.

After shooting just 33 percent (10-for-30) in the first half, the Lancers were lights out over the final twenty minutes converting 75 percent (21-for-28) of their field goal attempts.  

Bridgewater State, who were the polar opposites, shot 52 percent (16-for-31) from the floor in the opening stanza, but just 32 percent (11-for-34) in the second half.  

The two teams combined for 30 steals and they turned the ball over 51 times while Worcester State held a 39-35 rebounding advantage.

In upcoming action, the Bears travel to MASCAC rival Salem State on Saturday afternoon to take on the Vikings at 1 PM. The Lancers are off until next Tuesday night when they entertain the same Vikings at 6 o'clock.

Full Release Courtesy of Bridgewater State Sports Information