By Jim Fenton

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- She was part of a winning program in high school while playing for the Pentucket Regional girls basketball team.

Arielle Cleveland (Groveland, Mass.) was a contributor as a sophomore on the 2019 Division II state championship squad, made it to the North Sectional final as a junior in 2020, and the team played in the 2018 state semifinal round.

Now a senior at Bridgewater State University, Cleveland has continued being part of winning ways as a valuable role player since arriving on campus in 2021.

Cleveland has started 60 of the 90 games she's appeared in for the Bears, who have compiled a 67-33 record with one Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference championship and another trip to the conference final in her more than 3 1/2 seasons.

There is less than a month remaining in Cleveland's last regular season, and she is leading BSU in rebounds while ranking eighth in the MASCAC.

The Bears (11-6) finish the first half of the conference schedule on Saturday at 2 p.m., playing at Westfield State University.

After starting three games as a freshman in the 2021-22 season, Cleveland has started all but 12 games since as she has been a fixture in the lineup as a post player.

"She's really had a great career," said coach Bridgett Casey of the business management major. "She's one of those players who came in as a freshman and the growth and the maturity, both on the court and off the court, have been amazing to watch.

"Her game has elevated from high school to the collegiate level every year. Instead of being just a low-post dominant player, she's got some outside range now and is a stretch forward that all teams need.

"Defensively, she can stay with a driving post on the outside and muscle up down low with the bigger posts as an undersized post that she is. We can utilize her in many different ways, which we have done over her career."

Cleveland's specialities are rebounding and defense, and she has a team-best 6.1 rebounds this season to go with 6.7 points per game.

As a freshman playing 14.4 minutes a game, Cleveland was among the team leaders with five rebounds a game, was second as a sophomore with 6.3 rebounds and was again second as a junior with 5.4 per game.

"Boxing out first and tracking the ball are keys to rebounding," said the 5-foot-8 Cleveland. "I feel like I have a feel for tracking the ball.

"And I love defense, for sure. I think of myself as an all-around defender. I can play post defense, I can guard out top past the 3-point line. I'm pretty versatile."

Cleveland was versatile at Pentucket, playing a variety of positions, including being a playmaker in the backcourt.

That changed at BSU when she was strictly in the post as a freshman, appearing in 21 of 28 games when the Bears went 20-8 in the 2021-22 season.

"In college, you're playing the best of the best from high school teams and everyone is stronger, faster, taller," said Cleveland.

"It was a really big adjustment. I'm only 5-8. Coming to college and playing post, there are girls 6-foot plus that I had to guard and that was a big change."

Cleveland's role changed in the 2022-23 season, and the sophomore helped BSU go 21-7 and rally to beat Westfield State for the MASCAC title.

She averaged a career-best 8.7 points while starting 25 games and was second to Sophia Gaucher in rebounding on a team that advanced to the NCAA Division III tournament.

Last season, Cleveland scored 6.8 points and came off the bench in 10 of the 25 games that she appeared in for BSU.

Cleveland, who has 514 career rebounds to go with 623 points and 82 steals, has dealt with knee soreness since suffering an injury while playing in middle school and that has slowed her at times in college.

"She's had some injuries that have hindered her in the past and she has never been fully 100 percent in any season," said Casey.

Said Cleveland, "I just push through. For the most part, I'm doing good. I do my (physical therapy) exercises."

After attempting only 22 shots from 3-point range last season (and 85 in her first three seasons), Cleveland has expanded her game as a senior.

She has attempted 71 in 17 games this winter, giving her another option at the offensive end.

"I really, really worked on my shot this summer," said Cleveland. "I came in wanting to show that.

"I worked on everything over the summer -- ball handling, 3-point shooting ability and post moves."

The high school state champion and MASCAC champion would like to earn one more title before her basketball career comes to an end this winter.

The Bears are on a four-game winning streak after having a seven-game winning streak earlier in the season. They also dropped five in a row.

"Winning the MASCAC championship and the comeback we had (in the final against Westfield State in 2023), that was a pretty good experience," said Cleveland. "It was a great experience playing in the NCAAs. I want to experience that again, but I want to win this time."

February will soon arrive, meaning the end of the season and her career is drawing near.

Cleveland is glad that she chose Bridgewater State as the place to study and play basketball after graduating from Pentucket Regional.

"I'll miss it, for sure," said Cleveland. "I think I've made the most of my college career and overall college experience. I'm happy with where I'm at."