Women's Basketball falls to Bridgewater State on Senior Day
Senior Emily Castle was honored prior to tip off today in the Trailblazers game against Bridgewater State
North Adams, MA- The visiting Bridgewater State women's basketball team rode a strong second half to pull away from the MCLA Trailblazers 82-53 in the regular season finale for both programs. The Bears outscored the Trailblazers 52-28 in the closing half to improve to 12-12 on the season and finish at 9-3 in the MASCAC. MCLA ends the regular season at 13-12 and 4-8 in conference play. Both teams will await seeding in next week's conference tournament.
The Bears placed three players in double figures led by Jennifer Whyte's 17 points off the bench. Chanelle Melton added a double double of 13 points and 10 rebounds, while Jennie Lindland added 12 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 steals.
The Bears led just 30-25 at halftime but the lead quickly grew out of the locker room. BSU moved out to a double digit lead for the first time on a three pointer from Stephanie DeSantis at the 8:54 mark of the third quarter. MCLA would hang around for the next few minutes and trailed just 39-32 with 6:29 left to play. At that point, BSU would outscore MCLA 8-0 in moving out to a commanding 47-32 lead. They would never be challenged again.
MCLA was controlling the play in the opening half behind Kayla Hotaling's strong play. The junior collected 13 points and 9 rebounds leading the Trailblazers to a 25-21 lead with under three minutes remaining in the half. Hotaling would pick up her second foul on the next possession forcing her to the bench and Bridgewater took advantage.
The visitors would outscore MCLA 9-0 over the final 2:29 to seize a 30-25 lead at halftime. The run was started by a Chanelle Melton layup. Chelsea Saucier then completed a three point play giving the Bears the lead 26-25. Jennie Lindland would cap the spurt with a pair of drives to the basket to close the half. Both teams shot 35% from the floor in the half and committed seven turnovers each.
Hotaling ended with a double double of 15 points and 15 rebounds, however she was held to just one basket in the second half. Karina Mattera scored 11 points for the Trailblazers.
Whyte went 3-7 from beyond the arc for BSU for her 17 point effort. The Bears shot 44% from the field in the second half to pull away. Lindland and Melton shot a combined 11-15 from the floor in the victory.
The MASCAC will announce seeding later this evening with the quarterfinal round beginning Tuesday night.
