By Jim Fenton, The Enterprise (Brockton)
BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- The Bridgewater State University women’s basketball team stopped a two-game losing streak with a lopsided victory Saturday afternoon.
The Bears were in control from start to finish and kept Fitchburg State University winless, 88-50, at the Tinsley Center to improve to 6-2 in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference.
BSU (9-11) swept the season series from the Falcons (0-21, 0-8) by a combined 89 points.
Junior Chanelle Melton of Brockton helped the Bears set the tone early, scoring all 13 of her points in the first quarter when BSU opened a 27-8 lead.
“That’s what she’s capable of doing,’’ said coach Bridgett Casey. “Hopefully, this gets her more confident.
“(Jennie) Lindland’s been our most consistent player, but Chanelle’s right behind her. When you need a big defensive stop on a post play, she’s going to be there. She set the tone today.’’
Melton played just 21 minutes and hit 6 of 8 shots.
Three reserves were in double figures with Jennifer Whyte getting a team-high 15 points with four 3-pointers while Janet Maher contributed 12 points on 5-for-7 shooting plus six rebounds and three assists and Rhiana Page was 5-for-6 and scored 10 points.
The Falcons had a 2-0 lead before BSU went on a 12-0 run over a span of 3:19 with Melton scoring four of the points. The Bears also had a 15-1 run later in the quarter.
BSU was in front, 45-25, at halftime, then outscored Fitchburg State, 30-5, in the third quarter.
The Bears scored the first 16 points after halftime before the Falcons ended the run with 3:14 to go in the third quarter.
BSU, which got eight points and seven assists from Vanesa Conceicao, made 54 percent of their shots with 11 3-pointers.
“We needed to work on some things, the press in particular, which we got away from the other night,’’ said Casey of a loss to Framingham State. “When we run it and we execute it, we can get turnovers and we can convert them into points.
“Fitchburg is definitely a struggling team, but they can shoot the ball. It’s very difficult to play a team like that because they have nothing to lose and you don’t know what you’re going to get.’’
The Bears have four regular-season games to go, starting with a trip to Salem State Wednesday night.
BSU is third in the MASCAC behind Westfield State (8-1) and Framingham State (7-2).