Women's Basketball Posts 56-43 MASCAC Win Over Salem State

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – Junior forward Jennie Lindland (Edgartown, Mass.) scored a game-high 18 points and classmate Chanelle Melton (Brockton, Mass.) added 17 to lead the Bridgewater State University women's basketball team to a 56-43 victory over Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) rival Salem State University on Saturday afternoon at the Tinsley Center.

The host Bears improve to 5-9 on the season and 2-1 in the MASCAC, while the Vikings slip to 4-12 overall and 1-3 in conference play.

Lindland, who connected on 8 of 13 field goal attempts, also added two rebounds, a pair of assists, a blocked shot and a game-high five steals. Melton finished 7 for 12 from the floor and 3-for-3 at the free throw line. She also pulled down a team-best six rebounds to go along with three steals and a season-high four blocked shots.

Junior guard Kaitlyn Bryan (Lowell, Mass.) paced Salem State with 15 points and nine rebounds, while freshman forward Kia Fernandes (Wareham, Mass.) grabbed a game-best 11 boards to go along with five points and a block.

Bridgewater State used strong defensive pressure to open up a 12-0 lead as the Bears held the Vikings scoreless for nearly four minutes to start the game. Salem State turned the ball over six times over the first four minutes and missed its first three shots. The visitors, however, closed out the opening period with a 10-4 run to cut the deficit to 16-10.

The Vikings carried the momentum into the second quarter as a Bryan three-pointer followed by a Tyra Scott (Methuen, Mass.) layup made it a one-point game (16-15).  The Bears, however, were able to maintain a lead for the rest of the period. A Melton breakaway layup with ten seconds left gave BSU a 25-19 advantage heading into the break.

Melton led all players with ten first-half points while Lindland scored nine. Bryan and Scott paced the visitors with six points each over the first 20 minutes.

Both teams struggled with their shooting over the first two periods. The Bears shot 31% (11-35) from the floor and 2-for-14 (14%) from behind the arc. The Vikings connected on just 28% (8-29) of their field goal attempts including 1-for-11 (9%) from long range. The BSU defensive pressure forced 14 turnovers in the first half.

A 15-3 run over the first six minutes of the third quarter gave the Bears a commanding 40-22 lead. Freshman guard Sara DaSilva (Chelmsford, Mass.) highlighted the run with a pair of three-pointers while Lindland tallied five points and Melton added four. Turnovers continued to plague the Vikings as they committed nine more miscues in the period. Bridgewater would take a 42-28 advantage into the final quarter.

A 7-0 run capped off by a Bryan trifecta pulled the Vikings to within eight (50-42) with 3:16 left to play in the final quarter. However, a Lindland steal and ensuing breakaway layup shifted the momentum as the Bears pulled away for the 56-43 victory.

Bridgewater shot 36% (22-62) for the game and finished with 16 steals which helped lead to 30 Salem turnovers. The Bears held the advantage in both points off turnovers (24-10) and points in the paint (32-18).

The Vikings finished the game with shooting marks of 29% (16-56) from the floor, 21% (4-19) from behind the arc and 50% (7-14) at the free throw line. Salem held a 52-34 rebounding advantage including a 19-9 edge on the offensive glass.

BSU Senior guard Vanesa Conceicao (New Bedford, Mass.) dished out a game-high eight assists to go along with four rebounds and a pair of steals. Senior guard Stephanie DeSantis (Walpole, Mass.) added nine points and five boards for the Bears while DaSilva finished with eight points, two assists and three steals.

The MASCAC schedule resumes for both teams on Wednesday evening. The Bears will take on Worcester State University at six as the game will be played at Fitchburg State's Parkinson Gymnasium. The Vikings entertain Westfield State University at 5:30.