FITCHBURG, Mass. -- The Bridgewater State University women's basketball team defeated Fitchburg State University, 78-59, this afternoon in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) opener for both teams. 

The Bears (6-5, 1-0 MASCAC) handed the Falcons (11-1, 0-1 MASCAC) their first loss of the season.

Bridgewater State grabbed a seven point advantage after the first half of play, using a 13-8 run over the final minutes of the frame. Senior Shelley DePina (New Bedford, Mass.) led the Bears with ten points on 5-of-10 shooting for the half, while sophomore Amy Fahey (Wilmington, Mass.) notched 11 points and two rebounds for the Falcons.

Both teams opened the first half battling, trading shots for the first ten minutes of play with the score standing at a 15-15 deadlock just 12 minutes into the game. Minutes later, Bridgewater State opened a 12-6 scoring surge as Megan Boutilette (Charlton, Mass.) and Alana Watkins (Wareham, Mass.) hit consecutive lay-ups and DePina capped the run with a lay-up down low.

In the second half, the Bears opened the second half with a 12-1 run, using solid shooting from sophomore Jenna Williamson (Ludlow, Mass.). Williamson connected for a pair of threes in the span, notching six of her 13 second half points to spark the Bridgewater surge.

Fitchburg State broke the Bridgewater run with a lay-up by senior Madeline Merchant (Gardner, Mass.) off the bench and jumper by sophomore Meghan Secino (Leominster, Mass.), but back-to-back buckets from the Bears kept the Falcons deficit at 20 (54-34).

A three by freshman Gina Angelini (Fitchburg, Mass.) brought the Falcons within 15 midway through the second half, but Bridgewater State answered again as Ciara Williamson (Lowell, Mass.) connected for her first three of the half to extend the Bears lead to 60-42.

Down the stretch, Fitchburg State made its comeback, coming within 12 by the 4:54 mark, but Bridgewater State rifled eight straight points to regain a 20 point advantage and secure the its first league victory. For the contest, the Falcons out-shot the Bears 47.7% to 45.6% but 34 Fitchburg State turnovers led to 34 Bridgewater State points and proved the difference maker.

Junior Michaela Cosby (Walpole, Mass.) led the Bridgewater State attack with a game-high 21 points on 8-of-14 shooting, while Williamson and DePina added 20 points and 17 points respectively.

Fahey led the Falcons offense with 20 points, hitting 7-of-8 from the field and 6-of-7 from the charity stripe, while sophomore Laura Cote (Ashby, Mass.) added eight points and three steals.

Fitchburg State will be back in action on Wednesday as it hosts Fisher College at 5:30 p.m. Bridgewater State will host Framingham State on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.