Melton Leads Women's Hoops to 49-42 Win over MCLA

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. -- Senior forward Chanelle Melton (Brockton, Mass.) tallied a game-high 14 points and nine rebounds to lead the visiting Bridgewater State University women's basketball team to a 49-42 victory over Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic (MASCAC) for MCLA on Wednesday evening at the Amsler Campus Center.

The Bears improve to 7-13 on the season and 3-4 in the MASCAC with their third straight win, while the Trailblazers fall to 6-14 overall and 2-6 in conference play.

Melton, who was playing in her 100th collegiate game, connected on 6 of 11 field goals and four of her nine boards came off the offensive glass. Melton now has 941 points in her career.

MCLA led 12-8 after one quarter, but BSU took over in the second frame. The Bears scored the first 11 points of the period to take a 19-12 advantage. The run was started by a Megan Ianiro three-pointer and capped off by a Nicole Bostick trifecta. Bridgewater would ultimately hold a 27-21 lead at the break.

The visitors never trailed in the second half. MCLA got to within four points at 29-25 with 6:35 left in the third, but the Bears would respond with a 16-5 spurt over the next eleven minutes of action to open up their largest lead of the night at 45-30 with just 6:27 left to play. MCLA would get no closer than eight the rest of the way.

Senior guard Rhiana Page (Brookline, Mass.) added nine points, four rebounds and four assists for the Bears, while junior guard Sara DaSilva (Chelmsford, Mass.) contributed eight points and four assists. Junior forward Kailyn Aguiar (Acushnet, Mass.) notched six points, seven rebounds and a pair of steals in 24 minutes off the bench.

Bridgewater overcame a 36% (19-53) shooting night and 16 turnovers. The BSU defense, however, held the Trailblazers to just 31% (19-61) shooting including 2-for-12 (17%) from behind the arc.

MCLA was paced by Emily Moulton and Sam Gawron who each finished with a team-best 12 points. Moulton also added eight rebounds.

The MASCAC schedule continues for both teams on Saturday afternoon at one. The Trailblazers travel to Worcester State University, while the Bears entertain Westfield State University.