WORCESTER, Mass. -- The visiting Bridgewater State University women's basketball team extended its winning streak to eight games with a 71-66 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) win over Worcester State University on Wednesday night at Brissette Court.

The Bears improve to 15-6 on the season and 7-1 in the MASCAC as they clinched at least a share of the conference regular season title with two games remaining on the schedule. The Lancers fall to 8-14 overall and 2-6 in conference play with the setback.

Bridgewater State has won each of the last nine meetings of the two teams including a 69-65 victory earlier this season in Bridgewater. The Bears also hold a 64-41 advantage in the all-time series.

Freshman Lexi Thompson (New Bedford, Mass.) scored a career-high 17 points in 22 minutes off the bench to lead the way for the visitors. Thompson connected on 8 of 11 field goal attempts and added five rebounds, an assist and a steal.

Senior Arielle Cleveland (Groveland, Mass.) chipped in with ten points and six rebounds for the Bears who also received nine points apiece from graduate student Kylee Piche (Bridgewater, Mass.), senior Kylie Grassi (Plymouth, Mass.) and junior Haley Burchhardt (Schenectady, N.Y.). Piche added six rebounds while Grassi pulled down four boards and recorded three steals, and Burchhardt notched three rebounds and a pair of steals.

Sophomore Hannah Lomonaco (Northbridge, Mass.) and senior Katie Hurynowicz (Tyngsboro, Mass.) each tallied 18 points and seven rebounds to pace the hosts. Hurynowicz also contributed four assists and a pair of steals while Lomonaco notched three assists and four steals.

Sophomore Mia Haynes (Worcester, Mass.) added ten points, six rebounds and four assists in 32 minutes off the bench for the Lancers.

The Bears led 36-32 at the break as Thompson scored ten points on 5 of 6 shooting in the first half while Lomonaco led all players with 15 first-half points.

Bridgewater shot 42.4% (14-33) over the first 20 minutes but went just 1-for-8 (12.5%) from behind the arc. Worcester connected on just 11 of 35 field goal attempts with an 0-for-7 clip from long range in the first half.

Haynes scored the first five points of the third quarter on a jumper and three-pointer to put the Lancers on top, 37-36.

The Bears, however, answered with a 14-4 run over the next four minutes capped off by a Thompson layup off a turnover to reclaim the lead, 50-41.

Another Haynes three-pointer and back-to-back buckets from Hurynowicz pulled the hosts to within two at 50-48 with 1:49 remaining in the period.

Bridgewater closed out the third quarter with a 6-1 run highlighted by a Sophie Bradbury (So., East Birdgewater, Mass.) three-pointer to take a 56-49 lead into the final period.

The Bears outscored the Lancers 6-2 over the first 3 1/2 minutes of the fourth quarter to pull ahead, 62-51. Cleveland accounted for four of the six points on a three-pointer and free throw.

Worcester chipped away at the deficit and closed the gap to four (68-64) following a Lomonaco trifecta with 2:13 left to play.

Cleveland answered with a layup to push the BSU advantage back up to six at 70-64 with 1:46 showing on the scoreboard.

The Lancers had a couple of opportunities to cut the deficit to three but couldn't convert on a pair of three-point attempts and Bridgewater would hold on for the 71-66 victory.

Bridgewater finished with shooting percentages of 40.3% (25-62) fron the floor, 20% (3-15) from three-point range and 66.7% (18-27) at the free throw line. The Bears held on for the win despite going 1-for-4 from the free throw line over the final 35 seconds.

Worcester shot just 32.4% (24-74) for the game and 21.1% (4-19) from behind the arc. The Lancers knocked down 14 of 19 (73.7%) free throw attempts and held a decisive 16-4 rebounding advantage on the offensive glass. The 16 offensive boards, however, resulted in just nine second chance points.

The BSU defense forced 19 turnovers on the evening which led to a 20-9 advantage in points off turnovers. The Bears also outscored the Lancers 40-24 in the paint.

The MASCAC schedule continues to for both teams on Saturday afternoon at two o'clock. The Bears travel to Fitchburg State University to take on the Falcons while the Lancers head to Framingham State University to face the Rams. Bridgewater can claim the conference regular season title outright win a win over the Falcons.