Women's Hoops Downs Wheaton, 81-78, at Williams Winter Classic

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. -- The Bridgewater State University women's basketball team used a balanced scoring attack with four players in double figures as the Bears edged Wheaton College, 81-78, in the semifinal round of the Williams Winter Classic in Williamstown.

With the win, the Bears improve to 9-0 on the season.  It marks the best start for a Bridgewater women's hoops team since the 1983-1984 squad won their first 17 games en route to a 22-5 record.  Wheaton falls to 3-6 with the loss.

Senior guard Corey Cuddihy (Scituate, Mass.), sophomore guard Elisha Homich (Ludlow, Mass.) and freshman guard Jenna Williamson (Ludlow, Mass.) tallied 13 points apiece for the Bears while freshman forward Megan Boutilette (Charlton, Mass.) finished with 12 points on perfect 5-for-5 shooting.

Homich also added five rebounds, three assists and three steals, while Boutilette pulled down nine board to go along with two steals and a block.

Wheaton was led by sophomore guard Jeana Trimboli (Norwalk, Conn.) who led all scorers with 30 points to go along with five assists.  Trimboli was 10-for-19 shooting from the floor including 7 of 15 from three-point range.

Wheaton led by as many as 11 points in the opening stanza and took a 46-37 lead into the intermission.  The Lyons held a 52-44 advantage with 15:55 left to play, but Bridgewater went on a 9-0 run to turn an eight-point deficit into a one-point lead (53-52).

There would be six ties and two lead changes the rest of the way with the final lead change coming on a Laura Pierce (Hampstead, N.H.) layup with 1:29 remaining to put Wheaton up by one at 75-74.  Cuddihy, however, answered for the Bears with a three-pointer and Bridgewater knocked down four free throws in the final minute to secure the victory.

Pierce would finish with 14 points and five assists for the Lyons who shot 44% (25-for-57) from floor including 13-for-26 from behind the arc.  Wheaton, however, converted on only 15 of 26 (58%) free throw attempts.

Bridgewater connected on 46% (30-for-66) of their field goal attempts and finished 7 of 19 (37%) from three-point range.  The Bears were solid from the charity stripe, hitting on 14 of 17 (82%) free throw attempts, and also forced 22 turnovers. 

Bridgewater will take on host Williams College in the tournament championship game on Monday afternoon at 5:00 PM. Williams defeated Rivier College in the other semifinal matchup, 91-42.  Wheaton and Rivier will meet in the consolation game at 1:00 PM.