GORHAM, Maine -- Sophomore Chanelle Melton (Brockton, Mass.) scored a career-high 20 points to lead three players in double-figures as the Bridgewater State University Bears held of the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Engineers, 75-71, in the second game of the USM Tip Off Classic.

The Bears (1-0) will take on host Southern Maine in the tournament title game on Sunday afternoon at three.  RPI (0-1) will face UMaine Farmington in the consolation game at one. 

Melton was 8-for-13 from the field and 4-for-8 from the free throw line for her team-high total.  Senior Rachel Kusz (Worcester, Mass.) added 16 points, on a quartet of three-pointers, while sophomore Jennie Lindland (Edgartown, Mass.) added 14.

RPI junior Ashley Clough (West Chesterfield, N.H.) led all scorers with 21 points.  Clough also registered a game-high 10 rebounds for her first double-double of the season.  Senior Amanda Lynch (Middletown, N.Y.) was the only other Engineer in double-figures with 17 points and eight rebounds.

After a nip and tuck first half, Bridgewater State's late 6-0 in the closing minutes proved to be decisive.  Holding a narrow 28-27 lead with 2:06 to play in the opening stanza, the Bears used a pair of free throws from Kusz, a short jumper from Lindland and a tough jumper in the paint from Melton to create some separation from the Engineers, grabbing a 34-27 lead with 1:26 to play.

However, the momentum swung into RPI's favor in the final minute of play as the Engineers' Lynch single-handily outscored the Bears 5-2 in the closing moments to trail 36-32 at the break.  The Engineers had possession of the ball as the buzzer sounded after forcing a Bears' turnover but were unable to get off the shot.

BSU came out strong in the first five minutes of the second half and led by a comfortable 48-38 margin following a three from Kusz at the 15:09 mark.  The Bears maintained their advantage and continued to hold a 10-point lead, 56-46, with 8:51 to play following a jumper from junior guard Vanesa Conceicao (New Bedford, Mass.), before the Engineers began a surge.

RPI pulled to within three, 56-53, of BSU on a 7-0 run. Sophomore Jackie Sortor (Colchester, Vt.) capped the Engineer rally with a jumper, but RPI was unable to get over the hump. With its lead dwindling, Bridgewater State responded with a 10-3 run to return to a ten-point, 66-56, advantage with 2:27 remaining. Four different players scored for the Bears in the run, led by four points from Lindland.

The Engineers did not go quietly, however, and twice made it a one-possession game in the final 11 seconds of the game, but the Bears close out the game from the line for the 75-71 final.