Women's Basketball Falls to Williams, 56-47

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. – The Bridgewater State University women's basketball team dropped a 56-47 decision to host Williams College in the final game of the 2016 Williams Classic on Sunday afternoon at Chandler Gymnasium.

Juniors Kristin Fechtelkotter and Lydia Zaleski combined for 22 points and 17 rebounds to pace the Ephs (1-1).

The visiting Bears (1-1) were led by junior Rhiana Page who racked up 13 points on 6 of 11 shooting.

Williams, who struggled against the full court press of Montclair State on Saturday, were put under early pressure from the Bears, who scored seven points off of six Eph turnovers in the first quarter. The Bears used their early defensive success to jump out to a 9-3 lead before Williams was able to settle down and find better looks in their half-court set. Fechtelkotter led Williams with eight points on 3-4 shooting in the first ten minutes. Page scored 6 on perfect 3-3 shooting to lead the Bears to a 19-14 advantage to start the second quarter.

Page quickly scored her fourth basket of the game at the start of the second quarter to bump the lead to 21-14 before the Ephs put together a 14-2 run to close out the half.

Starting the second half with a 28-23 lead, the Ephs looked to quickly build on the advantage, stretching the lead to 11 before Bridgewater senior Stephanie DeSantis drained a momentum-halting three. Momentum quickly swung back to the Ephs when Zaleski converted an and-one opportunity on the other end to push the lead back to 11. The Bears responded with a three-pointer from sophomore Sara DaSilva that was part of her team-high seven points in the quarter which began a 10-4 run to pull the Bears within five by the end of the quarter.

The teams went back-and-forth in the first five minutes of the final quarter before DeSantis knocked home another three-pointer that tied the game at 44 apiece. Zaleski gave the Ephs a 48-46 lead with two clutch free-throws, while Page could only convert one of her two attempts on the other end. A three-pointer from Williams' freshman Emily Chang gave the Ephs a two possession lead with two minutes to play in the game. Williams would tack on a few more free throws to ice the game and give them their first win of the 2016-17 season.

DaSilva added ten points for the Bears, while DeSantis chipped in with nine.

Bridgewater forced 30 turnovers in the game and held a 24-9 advantage in points off turnovers.

Williams will remain at home in their next matchup, a Tuesday game against Springfield College at 5:00 PM, while Bridgewater will travel on Tuesday for a bout with Rhode Island College at 5:30 PM.