WORCESTER, Mass. -- Sophomore guard Catherine Sweeney (Lowell, Mass.) scored 15 points on 7 of 8 shooting to lead the Worcester State University women's basketball team to a 62-55 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) victory over visiting Bridgewater State University on Tuesday evening at Lancer Gymnasium.
The host Lancers improve to 9-8 on the season and 3-2 in the MASCAC, while the Bears fall to 4-13 overall and 1-4 on conference play.
Sweeney also recorded five assists, a blocked shot and pair of steals, while junior center Britt Herring (West Brookfield, Mass.) filled the stat sheet with 12 points, seven rebounds, two assists, three blocks and a steal. Junior guard Kate Surprenant (Pelham, Mass.) contributed 12 points, four assists and two steals for Worcester.
Junior guard Sara DaSilva (Chelmsford, Mass.) paced Bridgewater State with 15 points and three steals, while senior forward Chanelle Melton (Brockton, Mass.) checked in with 13 points, a game-high nine rebounds, three assists and a steal. DaSilva scored 12 of her team-best 15 points in the fourth quarter.
The first 28 minutes of the contest featured three ties and ten lead changes. Worcester State, however, scored the final nine points of the third quarter to take a 42-34 lead heading into the final period. Sweeney accounted for six of the Lancers' final nine points of the third.
A Sweeney layup to open the scoring in the fourth quarter completed the 11-0 run and extended the Lancers' advantage to ten (44-34) with 9:36 left to play. The WSU lead would fluctuate between eight and 12 points until the final two minutes.
Bridgewater State pulled to within six, 59-53, following a Rhiana Page (Brookline, Mass.) layup with 1:46 remaining. After a stop, the Bears had a chance to close the gap but could not convert. Worcester went 3-for-4 from the free throw line over the final 30 seconds to hang on for the 62-55 victory.
The Lancers shot 44% (25-57) for the game and went 10-for-15 (67%) at the charity stripe. The Bears connected on 42% (22-53) of their field goal attempts and finished 10-for-17 (59%) at the line. The two teams combined to shoot 3-for-16 from behind the arc.
The MASCAC schedule continues for both teams on Thursday evening at 5:30. The Lancers travel to Westfield State University to take on the Owls, while the Bears entertain the Falcons of Fitchburg State University.