By Jim Fenton, The Enterprise (Brockton)
BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- The NCAA Division 3 record for points scored in a non-overtime loss by a women’s basketball team had stood since 1997.
After a wild game at the Tinsley Center last Saturday afternoon, though, the mark now belongs to Bridgewater State University.
The Bears scored a program-record for points, but they were edged by Westfield State University, 111-108, losing to a team that has been one of the nation’s top scoring teams since the 2015-16 season.
The Division 3 record for points in a regulation loss had been 102, set on Jan. 22, 1997 by Salisbury University of Maryland when it dropped a seven-point decision to Marymount University.
“Making the NCAA record books, it was not quite the way we wanted to do it,” said BSU coach Bridgett Casey. “But it was exciting. It was crazy. It was very fast-paced, a fast break pretty much every time.
“One team or the other was on the go, go, go. You’ve got two pressing teams that play that style, and that’s what happens.”
Westfield State ranks sixth in Division 3 nationally this season, averaging 82.5 points. The Owls have scored 99 points a game while going 3-1 in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference.
The past four seasons, Westfield State has averaged 88.2, 88.8, 87.2 and 87.9 points per game. A year ago, BSU split the season series, holding the Owls to 77 and 65 points, but Westfield State ousted the Bears from the conference tourney by scoring 94 points.
Last Saturday, the Owls were ahead by 16 points during the second quarter and led, 59-48, at halftime. BSU used an 18-5 run in the third quarter to take a 69-67 advantage and trailed, 82-80, going into the final 10 minutes where Westfield State hung on.
“The kids were in it,” said Casey, whose team is 6-10 and 2-1 in the MASCAC. “We were down big and it had the potential to get disastrous, but they buckled down and figured out at the right times how to beat that press and beat the system.
“I’m very pleased with my players who came out and played like that and kept up with them. They knew the storm was coming.”
Junior center Destiny Fitzgerald had a career day, setting the BSU record for points with 43 on 20 for 30 shooting to go with 17 rebounds. The previous mark had been 38 points set by Jennie Lindland against Westfield State in the 2017 MASCAC tourney.
“Destiny is really starting to come around,” said Casey. “Their style of play is they press you hard and sometimes they send four in the backcourt and a lot of times she’s wide open under the basket.”
Fitzgerald made weekly honor roll in both the MASCAC and the New England Women’s Basketball Association.
Nicole Bostick, a Coyle-Cassidy High graduate, added a season-best 21 points for the Bears, who shot 49 percent while the Owls were at 51 percent.
The 108 points are the most ever scored by BSU, eclipsing the record of 105 set against Thomas College in 2011. The 111 points allowed are the most surrendered by the Bears, breaking the record of 106 that Salem State scored in 1996.
Bridgewater State will be at Westfield State for a rematch on Feb. 12. The Bears next play Wednesday night at Fitchburg State.
“I’ve got a very young team, but they’re all playing pretty well,” said Casey. “For us, it’s going to take a total team effort. We don’t have that one superstar, per se, so on any given night it could be three or four in double figures and it could come from anyone consistently. That’s how we played all year long.”