FRAMINGHAM, Mass. -- The Bridgewater State University women's basketball team used a strong defensive effort to post a 77-56 MASCAC win on the road over defending conference champion Framingham State University on Saturday afternoon at the Athletic & Recreation Center.

The win marked the 400th coaching victory in the 28-year career of BSU head coach Bridgett Casey. Casey (400-299) became just the third coach in Bridgewater State history to reach milestone as she joins retired baseball coach Rick Smith (550-376-5), retired softball coach Dee Dee Enabenter (429-153-3) and retired men's basketball coach Joe Farroba (402-365).

The Bears improve to 8-6 on the season (1-1 MASCAC) as they snapped a five-game losing streak. The Rams fall to 7-7 overall (0-2 MASCAC) with their third straight setback. Bridgewater holds a 63-28 lead in the all-time series.

Senior guard Kylie Grassi (Plymouth, Mass.) led five players in double-figure scoring for the visitors. Grassi scored a game-high 20 points and added three rebounds, three assists and a pair of steals.

Graduate guard Kylee Piche (Bridgewater, Mass.), senior forward Jessica D'Amours (Feeding Hills, Mass.), sophomore guard Sophie Bradbury (East Bridgewater, Mass.) and freshman guard Lexi Thomson (New Bedford, Mass.) checked in with ten points apiece for the Bears.

Piche also added three rebounds and a steal, while D'Amours tallied seven boards and a steal, and Bradbury notched two rebounds, two assists and three steals. Thompson grabbed seven rebounds and dished out four assists.

The Bears held a 15-point advantage (39-24) at the break as the BSU defense forced 17 turnovers over the first 20 minutes and held the Rams to just 24 points on 8 of 26 (30.8%) shooting.

Grassie and D'Amours tallied eight points apiece in the first half while senior forward Arielle Cleveland (Groveland, Mass.) notched seven. Freshman forward Jacqueline Schels (Hamburg, N.J.) scored eight of Framingham's 24 first-half points.

Bridgewater went 5-for-12 (41.7%) from behind the arc over the first two periods with D'Amours connecting on a pair of trifectas.

The Bears maintained the double-digit advantage throughout a fairly evenly played third quarter and took a 59-43 lead into the final period following a Mairead Gallagher (Jr., Bridgewater, Mass.) trifecta with 34 seconds remaining in the session. Bridgewater was 3-for-4 from three-point range in the third quarter including a pair from Grassi.

Framingham scored the first four points of the fourth quarter to cut the deficit to 12 (59-47). Bridgewater, however, responded with a 11-2 run highlighted by another Grassi three-pointer to push the lead to 21 (70-49) and put the game out of reach with 3:14 left to play.

Bridgewater shot 38.9% (28-72) for the game and went 10-for-22 (45.5%) from three-point range.

Defensively, the Bears forced 25 turnovers which led to a 25-13 edge in points off turnover. Bridgewater held the Rams to 30% (18-60) shooting for the game including a 2-for-16 (12.5%) clip from behind the arc. Framingham converted more free throws (19) than field goals.

The BSU bench, led by Bradbury and Thompson, outscored the Framingham reserves by a decided margin of 27-7.

The Rams held a 53-41 rebounding advantage for the game with an 18-12 advantage on the offensive glass.

Senior guard Katherine Haselton (Greenfield, Mass.) paced the hosts with 17 points, six rebounds and an assist, while freshman forward Faith Greene (Worcester, Mass.) notched 15 points, six rebounds and a pair of steals. Schels finished with 12 points to go along with nine rebounds, one steal and two blocked shots.

In upcoming action, the Bears entertain the Lyons of Wheaton College on Monday night at seven o'clock. The Rams travel to MASCAC foe Salem State University on Wednesday night to take on the Vikings also at seven.