Recap Courtesy of Framingham State SID Kathy Lynch
FRAMINGHAM, Mass. -- Senior forward Toya Chester (Leominster, MA) and freshman forward Kia Minor (Oak Bluffs, MA) scored a game-high 18 points apiece to lead the Framingham State women's basketball team to a 72-63 win over the Bridgewater State Bears in Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference (MASCAC) women's basketball action tonight in Framingham.
The loss was the first conference loss for the Bears this season as they are now 7-1 in the MASCAC and 11-8 overall, while the Rams, who are winners of five straight, improve to 4-4 in the MASCAC and 10-8 overall.
Chester racked up her sixth double double of the season with 18 points, including 7-of-8 from the free throw line, and 14 rebounds, while Minor connected on 6-of-9 from the field for her 18 points. Freshman reserve guard Nicole Meyer (North Attleboro, MA) continued her hot shooting as she connected on 5-of-7 from the field including 3-of-4 from behind the arc for 13 points, while sophomore center Emily Clark (Melrose, MA) chipped in 10 points and six rebounds.
The Bears were led by sophomore forward Shelly DePina (New Bedford, MA), who also picked up a double double with a team-high 14 points and a game-high 16 caroms. Despite struggling from the floor, junior guard Corey Cuddihy (Scituate, MA) chipped in 13 points and four assists, while freshman reserve guard Elisha Homich (Ludlow, MA) added 10 points and five boards.
Trailing by three with 8:28 remaining in the first half, Meyer nailed a three from long range to tie the game and spark a 13-6 run that saw the Rams take a 25-21 lead at the break.
In the second half the Rams extended their lead to as many as 12 points (43-31) with 12:11 left in the game. The Bears clawed their way back into the game with an 8-0 run to close the gap to 43-39 with 10:26 remaining. Homlich nailed a three and Monica-Sabina Bharoocha (North Smithfield, RI) scored a three-point play the old fashioned way on the run.
The Rams answered with a 13-5 run of their own to retake a 12-point lead (56-44) and put the game out of reach. Framingham State's bench outscored the Bears' bench 31-21 in the game and the Rams shot 36.2% from the floor while the Bears shot only 29.5%.
The Rams return to action on Saturday as they travel to Worcester State at 3:30 p.m., while the Bears host Fitchburg State on Saturday at 1 p.m.