BRIDGEWATER, Mass. - In MASCAC women's basketball action, senior forward Colleen Feeney (Providence, RI) scored 27 points and pulled down 19 rebounds to lead the Bridgewater State College Bears to a 58-47 victory over Westfield State this evening from the Tinsley Center.
With the win BSC improves to 15-4 on the season and 6-1 in the MASCAC. Westfield slips to 8-12 overall and 2-5 in conference play.
Feeney, who leads the MASCAC in scoring, rebounding and blocked shots, connected on 10 of 19 field goal attempts for the game and blocked 3 shots. 13 of her game-high 19 rebounds came in the second half and six came off the offensive glass. The Bears owned the boards in this one out-rebounding the Owls to the tune of 51 to 29.
The Bears took a 26-20 lead into the intermission behind 14 points from Feeney in the opening stanza. BSC limited the Owls to just 24% shooting (5-for-21) in the first half.
Bridgewater built their biggest lead of the game at 16 points (46-30) with 5:36 remaining in the second half. Westfield cut that lead in half as they went on an 8-0 run over the next two minutes to pull to within 46-38. That would be as close as the Owls would get as BSC got a big three-point play from sophomore guard Michaela Johnson (Riverside, RI) to push the advantage up to 11 points (51-41) with just under three minutes remaining on the clock.
The Bears connected on seven free throw attempts down the stretch, including six in the final 46 seconds, to seal the win.
BSC hit on 39% (22-for-57) of their field goal attempts and finished just 14 of 25 from the charity stripe (56%). The Bears, however, limited the Owls to 27% shooting and blocked seven shots. Westfield stayed in contention thanks to some outstanding free throw shooting as the Owls connected on 18 of 21 free throw attempts (86%).
Junior forward Andrea Wasuk (Lenox, MA) paced Westfield with 18 points, 6 rebound and 3 steals.
BSC senior guard Caitlin Feeney (Providence, RI) was the only other player to finish in double figure scoring as she connected for 12 points. Feeney also pulled down 5 rebounds, registered 5 steals and dished out 5 assists. Johnson chipped in with 5 points and 5 rebounds all which came off the offensive glass.
Both teams resume conference play on Saturday afternoon at 1 PM. Bridgewater travels to Framingham State College to take on the Lancers, while Westfield hosts Worcester State.