Women's Basketball Improves to 4-0 in MASCAC Play

Recap Courtesy of Worcester State Sports Information Office

Box Score

WORCESTER, Mass. -- Bridgewater State junior guard Corey Cuddihy (Scituate, MA) tallied 16 points while sophomore Shelly DePina (New Bedford, MA) racked up 15 points with a game-high nine rebounds to help lead the Bears to a 71-52 victory over Worcester State this evening at the Lancer Gymnasium in MASCAC Women's Basketball action.

Winners of five straight, BSC (8-7) remains unbeaten at 4-0 in conference play while the Lancers fall to 9-8 and 3-2 in the MASCAC.

Worcester State was paced by sophomore Kaleigh Charette's (Fairhaven, MA) 16 points and six rebound effort while freshman Meaghan O'Keefe (Warren, MA) also had an impressive day for the Lancers, as she went 4-for-4 from the field and 5-for-6 from the free throw line for a career-best 13 points.

The Lancers struggled out of the gate, falling into a quick 5-0 hole just three minutes into the game. After the two squads exchanged a pair of baskets, the Lancers went on a 5-0 run to give them an 11-9 advantage, which was the only lead WSC would have the rest of the contest. Keyed by senior guard Brittney Chappron's (Braintree, MA) six points, the Bears went on a 10-0 spurt to take a 19-11 lead from which they never looked back.

Turnovers plagued the Lancers, as they amassed 14 of them in the first half, resulting in 13 of Bridgewater's points. BSC freshman Elisha Homich (Ludlow, MA) grabbed four of her game high five steals in the opening half, while Chappron led the Bears in scoring at the intermission with nine points. Charette led all scorers at the half with ten points of her own, as the Lancers went into the locker room trailing 33-25.

The Lancers were never able to overcome the eight point deficit they faced to start the second stanza as the Bears started off second frame on a 9-2 run to boost their lead to 42-27 at 16:36. WSC tried to rally, but the visitors continued to put on points as they ballooned the advantage to as many as 68-42 with three minutes left in the game as they cruised ahead for the triumph.

Worcester State did not attempt a single three in the second half as they were 0-for-3 for the game marking the first time the team has not hit a trey since their matchup against Framingham State last season.

O'Keefe scored eight of her 13  points in the second period, in an attempt to keep the Lancers in the game, but Depina and Cuddihy were too much as they each notched nine points apiece in the final stanza to put away the Blue and Gold.

Turnovers were the story for Worcester State, as they compiled an equal amount of miscues in the second half, compiling 28, compared to BSC's 13. The 28 turnovers were the highest this season for the Lancers and the most since the 29 turnovers they amassed against Trinity College on December 2, 2008.

Both teams will play Salem State in the next week as the Bears get the first crack on Saturday at 1 PM at home before the Lancers complete the first round of MASCAC play with the Vikings this Tuesday on the road at 6.