WILLIAMSTOWN, MA – The Bridgewater State Bears defeated the Middlebury Panthers 80-55 today in the consolation game of the Williams Holiday Classic.  With the win, the Bears move to 4-2 while the Panthers fall to 2-3.

The two teams proved evenly matched in the opening half.  When the Bears gained a six-point lead with just over twelve minutes to play, Middlebury quickly responded.  Brittany Perfetti hit a big three from the top right part of the arc to cut the lead to 16-13. After Sarah Marcus went 1-for-2 from the line, Tracy Borsinger had a nice finish to tie the game up at 16 apiece with 11:23 to play.

Jenna Williamson responded with a long two for the Bears, but they were unable to take back a decisive lead.  Maddie Moreau stole the ball for the Panthers and took it the length of the court for a bucket.  When Shelly DePina knocked down a huge three from the top right part of the arc to take back the lead with eight minutes to play, it looked as if the Bears might regain the lead. The Panthers, however, hung tight, and the two teams traded baskets for the rest of the half.  The game was tied up at 35 all as the two teams went into the locker room.

Out of the break, the Bears started to take over. They opened the half wither a three-point play.  Michaela Cosby was fouled on her way to the hoop.  She made the resulting free throw to give her team the early second-half lead.  The Bears' full-court press was overpowering for the Panthers, and they quickly added to the lead.  With 16:27 on the clock, Cosby stole the ball and took it the length of the court to make it double digits at 47-37. 

Borsinger responded for the Panthers with a bucket from the left baseline to cut the lead to 8, but the Panthers were unable to overcome the deficit. They did cut into the deficit one other time – with about 9:35 to play Katie Ritter was fouled as she drove to the hoop. She made the free throw to cut the lead to seven.

From that point forward, though, it was all Bears as they continued to stretch the lead – pushing it to as many as 29 points before the game was out.

Cosby led the Bears with 20 points.  She also had eight steals. DePina added another 17 points and Megan Boutilette had a double double for the Bears with 11 points and 12 rebounds.  DePina was the Bears' all-tournament selection.  The teams shot 43.5% from the field on the day.

Leading the way for Middlebury today was Moreau with 12 points.  Marcus added 11.  The team shot 35.4% from the field. Katie Pett was named to the all-tournament team for the Panthers.