By Jim Fenton, The Enterprise (Brockton)
BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- The Bridgewater State University women’s basketball team will be the No. 3 seed in next week’s Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference tournament.
The Bears, who have won five consecutive MASCAC tourney titles, are locked into that spot after losing to Westfield State University, 70-60, at the Tinsley Center on Wednesday night.
BSU needed a victory over the Owls and some help on the final day of the regular season on Saturday to improve its seeding, but Westfield State clinched the top seed with a strong second-half showing.
The Bears (11-12, 8-3 in the MASCAC) will host a quarterfinal-round game next Tuesday night.
BSU scored 25 points on 71 percent shooting in the first quarter, but managed just 35 points (hitting 13-for-47) in the final 30 minutes as the Owls’ pressure defense was a factor.
“I think we pushed the panic button a little,’’ said Bears coach Bridgett Casey. “We knew exactly what we needed to do against it and at the start of the game, we were doing it. For whatever reason, we didn’t keep doing it.
“We held a team that averages 91 points to 70 points and eight in the second quarter. The defense was working together. But we turned the ball over too many times and on key possessions, we just didn’t convert.’’
Jennie Lindland led BSU with 16 points, making 7 of 8 shots, while Vanesa Conceicao added 15 points. Stephanie DeSantis (six assists, six rebounds) and Sara DaSilva chipped in with 10 points each.
The Bears and Owls (17-7, 10-1) were tied, 25-25, after one quarter despite BSU’s sizzling shooting and the Bears held a 35-33 halftime lead.
But Westfield State opened the second half on a 12-3 run and the Bears’ final lead was 36-35 with just 1:10 into the third quarter.
BSU managed to tie the game three times in that quarter before trailing, 50-47, entering the last quarter where the Owls were in control.
The Bears managed 12 third-quarter points and 13 in the fourth quarter as they were stymied by the struggles on offense. BSU finished with 23 turnovers and missed 9 of 18 foul shots.
Westfield State, which had nine players get at least 18 minutes of playing time, was led by Jill Valley (21) and Forbasaw Nkamebo (17 points, 12 rebounds).
The Bears are the only MASCAC team to defeat the Owls this season, winning on the road last month.
“We didn’t turn the ball over as much and we executed and finished in the half-court set offensively that game,’’ said Casey.
BSU finishes the regular season at the Mass. College of Liberal Arts Saturday before opening the MASCAC tourney, bidding for a sixth title in a row.
“Until somebody knocks us out of the playoffs, as far as I’m concerned, we’re still the team to beat,’’ said Casey. “We’ve shown in the past we can win on the road and that’s what we’re going to have to do this year.’’