Melton, Boutilette Lead Women's Hoops to 57-36 MASCAC Win Over MCLA

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – Sophomore forward Chanelle Melton (Brockton, Mass.) scored a game-high 21 points, and senior forward Megan Boutilette (Charlton, Mass.) posted a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds, to lead the Bridgewater State University women's basketball team to a 57-36 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) victory over visiting MCLA on Saturday afternoon at the Tinsley Center.

The host Bears improve to 12-7 on the season and 6-1 in the MASCAC with their fourth straight win, while the Trailblazers slip to 7-12 overall and 1-6 in conference play.

Melton, who connected on 9 of 13 field goal attempts, also contributed three rebounds and a pair of steals.  Boutilette went 6-for-10 from the floor while four of her game-high 12 boards came off the offensive glass.  She also added three assists and a season-high seven steals including the 300th of her career.

Sophomore guard Brayleigh Hanlon (Wynantskill, N.Y.) paced MCLA with nine points, five rebounds and a pair of steals.

The game was tightly contested over the first 13 minutes of the first half.  However, after MCLA sophomore guard Courtney McLaughlin (Pittsfield, Mass.) knocked down a three-pointer at the 7:03 mark to make it a one-point game (18-17), the Bears closed out the half with a 16-2 run to take a 34-19 lead into the break.  Boutilette scored six of her ten first-half points during the surge.  Melton also tallied ten points in the opening stanza.

Bridgewater forced 15 turnovers over the first twenty minutes of the contest resulting in a 16-6 advantage in points off turnovers. The Bears also held a 17-11 rebounding advantage including a 7-2 edge off the offensive glass.

Despite a slow start to the second half, Bridgewater maintained a double-digit lead throughout the period. The Bears took their biggest lead of the game, 57-33, on freshman guard Margarita Delaporta's (Canton, Mass.) three-pointer with 1:25 remaining and coasted to the 57-36 victory.

The Bridgewater State defensive pressure was outstanding throughout the game as the Bears finished with 15 steals, forced 27 turnovers and limited the Trailblazers to just 35% (15-43) shooting. MCLA's 36 points marked the lowest scoring output by a BSU opponent this season.

The Bears outrebounded the Trailblazers, 35-29, and held a 32-18 edge in points off turnovers.

On the offensive side of the ball, Bridgewater State shot 40% (23-57) from the floor and finished 8-for-11 (73%) from the free throw line.

The MASCAC schedule resumes for both teams on Tuesday evening.  The Bears entertain the Owls of Westfield State University at 5:30, while the Trailblazers travel to Worcester State University for a six o'clock game with the Lancers.

Notes: Boutilette moved into 11th place on the Bears' all-time scoring list as she now has 1,082 points.