PAXTON, Mass. – The Bridgewater State University women's cross country team competed at the 2015 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Championships held on Saturday at Moore State Park in Paxton.

The Bears (42 pts.) placed second in the MASCAC team standings finishing just behind conference champion Westfield State University (38 pts.).

BSU senior Danielle Poto (North Andover, Mass.) led the Bears with a five-kilometer time of 19:03 as she finished second only to meet champion Jess Cardin of Westfield State. Cardin posted a winning time of 18:41.

Senior Rachel Ducharme (North Attleboro, Mass.) was next across the line for the Bears as she placed seventh with a time of 20:11. Fellow senior Emily Ducharme (North Attleboro, Mass.) finished eighth (20:14) and sophomore Jessica Roberts (Mendon, Mass.) placed tenth (20:38) to round out the Bears' top ten performers.

Poto, Rachel and Emily Ducharme and Roberts all earned All-MASCAC accolades.

BSU head coach, Jim Simoneau, was named the 2015 Champion's Choice Women's Cross Country Coach of the Year as voted on by his peers. 

Next Saturday, the BSU cross country teams compete at the ECAC Division III Championships hosted by Williams College.