Women's Basketball Remains Unbeaten with 73-66 Win over RIC

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Senior guard Brittney Chappron (Braintree, Mass.) scored 16 points to lead the Bridgewater State women's basketball team to a 73-66 win at Rhode Island College on Tuesday night.

With the win, Bridgewater remains unbeaten as the Bears improve to 3-0.  RIC (3-1) suffers its' first setback of the season.

Senior guard Corey Cuddihy (Scituate, Mass.) contributed 14 points, five rebounds and three assists for the winners.  Freshman forward Megan Boutilette (Charlton, Mass.) added eight points and pulled down a game-high 13 rebounds.

RIC junior guard Stephanie Coro (North Providence, R.I.) led all scorers with 21 points, while classmate forward Rachel Riley (Coventry, R.I.) posted a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds.

The Bears found themselves trailing, 31-16, with 7:25 left in the first half. BSU erupted on a 17-2 run to close out the half to tie the game up at 33-all at the break.

Chappron and Boutilette each cashed in a three-pointer to give the visitors a 39-33 lead, capping the 23-2 run just 1:11 into the second half.

The Anchorwomen came right back with six straight points over the next 1:27 to even the game at 39-39. Bridgewater rattled off five straight on a Chappron three and a sophomore guard Elisha Homich (Ludlow, Mass.) layup to hold a 44-39 lead at the 16:45 mark.

A 6-1 run by the hosts tied the game, 45-45, at 15:34, keyed by four points by Riley. A Harrington free throw with 10:27 left broke a 51-51 tie and gave the Anchorwomen their first lead since the first half.  They would widen the advantage to 54-51 at 9:31 on a layup by junior guard Brittany Saccoccio (Gloucester, Mass.).

RIC took its final lead of the game, 57-56, with 8:44 left, but a Cuddihy three-pointer 45 seconds later put the visitors back on top. The game was tied 65-65 with 2:58 left, but RIC managed just one free throw the rest of the way. Bridgewater sealed the win with six free throws, capped by a pair from freshman guard Jenna Williamson (Ludlow, Mass.) with seven seconds left.

Bridgewater won despite turning the ball over 32 times.  The Bears, however, connected on 10 of 23 three-point field goal attempts while RIC finished just 1-for-15 from behind the arc.  The visitors also held a 50-40 rebounding advantage.

This marks the first time in Head Coach Bridgett Casey's 14-year tenure at Bridgewater State that the Bears have won their first three contests to open the season.

In upcoming action, Rhode Island College will travel to WPI on Sunday, November 28th.  Bridgewater heads to UMass Dartmouth on Tuesday, November 30th for a seven o'clock game with the Corsairs.