BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – The Bridgewater State University women's basketball team cruised to a 73-50 victory over visiting Elms College on Thursday night at the Tinsley Center.

The Bears improve to 3-8 on the season as they snap a six-game losing streak. The Blazers slip to 4-6 overall with their third straight setback.

Junior forward Chanelle Melton (Brockton, Mass.) paced Bridgewater State with 13 points and six rebounds, while senior guard Vanesa Conceicao (New Bedford, Mass.) added 12 points, four assists and five steals.

All 12 players scored for Bridgewater State led by Melton and Conceicao. Freshman guard Sara DaSilva (Chelmsford, Mass.) added nine points while sophomore Janet Maher (Mansfield, Mass.) came off the bench to score seven points on 3 of 4 shooting to go along with six rebounds.

For Elms, forward J.C. Pickett (Chicopee, Mass.) led the way with ten points, five rebounds, three assists and a steal.

Up 24-21 with under six minutes remaining in the second quarter, the Bears closed out the half with an 11-2 run to take a 35-23 lead into the intermission.

Melton, who scored the final four points of the quarter, led all players with nine first half points. Junior forward Alexandra Marques (Newington, Conn.) paced the Blazers with eight points on 4-for-4 shooting over the first 20 minutes.

The Bears maintained a double digit advantage throughout the third quarter and scored the final six points of the period to take a 57-39 lead into the fourth. Bridgewater carried the momentum and held the Blazers to just one point over the first seven minutes of the final quarter. All told, the Bears outscored the Blazers 17-1 during a nine-minute stretch of the second half to take a commanding 68-40 lead. Eight different Bears scored during the run.

Bridgewater shot 53% (31-59) for the game including 6 of 19 (32%) from behind the arc. The Bears held the Blazers to 34% shooting (19-56) and forced 25 turnovers.

Both teams are back in action on Saturday afternoon. The Bears open Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) play at home against the Rams of Framingham State University. Tip-off is slated for 1:00 PM. The Blazers travel to Wheelock College for a noontime New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) tilt with the Wildcats.