BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – The visiting UMass Boston women's basketball team cruised to a 77-50 non-conference victory over Bridgewater State University on Monday evening at the Tinsley Center.
The Beacons, who led from start to finish, improve to 12-1 on the season, while the host Bears fall to 3-9. Despite the loss, Bridgewater State still holds a 26-10 edge in the all-time series.
Freshman forward Joie Grassi (Plymouth, Mass.) paced the visitors with a game-high 19 points and nine rebounds to go along with four steals. Freshman center Shania Osborne (Fairfield, Conn.) added 12 points and eight boards in just nine minutes off the bench, while sophomore forward Alecia Quinones (Stoughton, Mass.) checked in with 11 points and seven rebounds (all offensive). Senior guard Katie Mathieu (Coventry, Conn.) rounded out the Beacons' double-digit point producers with 11 points in addition to three assists.
Senior forward Chanelle Melton (Brockton, Mass.) led Bridgewater State with 12 points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals, while junior forward Kailyn Aguiar (Acushnet, Mass.) tallied ten points and a game-high nine rebounds. BSU sophomore forward Kayla Carter (Beverly, Mass.) filled the stat sheer with nine points, three caroms, two assists, a game-best four blocked shots and a pair of steals.
UMass led 19-4 after five minutes of play as Grassi and Mathieu combined for 13 of the Beacons' first 19 points. UMB would hold a 21-11 advantage at the end of one and extended their lead to 45-28 at the break.
Grassi notched15 points over the first two quarters, while Melton paced BSU with ten first-half points.
The Beacons got up by as many as 29 points (67-38) in the second half, which was also the score after three quarters of play, before settling for the 27-point victory.
UMass dominated the boards as the Beacons held a decided 54-34 rebounding advantage including a 27-13 edge on the offensive glass. The visitors finished with a 26-10 advantage in second chance points.
UMass shot 41% (32-79) from the floor, 25% (5-20) from behind the arc and 89% (8-9) at the free throw line.
Bridgewater State shot just 30% (16-54) from the floor and went 1-for-14 (7%) from three-point range. The Bears also converted 17 of 25 (68%) foul shots.
Both teams are back in action on Wednesday evening. The Bears open Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) play at home against the Trailblazers of MCLA. Tip-off is slated for five o'clock. The Beacons travel to Plymouth State University for a 5:30 Little East Conference (LEC) tilt with the Panthers.