FITCHBURG, Mass. -- Bridgewater State and Worcester State tallied 186 points apiece to share the 2015 MASCAC Women's Outdoor Track & Field Championship. The Bears, who claimed just  their second overall conference title and first since 1997, also finished tied for second in the New England Alliance standings (108.5 points).

Junior Emily Ducharme (North Attleboro, Mass.) and sophomore Samantha Richner (Hanson, Mass.) each garnered top honors in both the MASCAC and Alliance results in their respective events. Ducharme was the first to cross the finish line in the 10,000-meter run (40:59.90), while Richner placed first in the high jump (5'2.5"/1.59m).

Junior Theresa Connolly (North Andover, Mass.), sophomore Sabrina Rizzo (Peabody, Mass.) and freshmen Shauntel Farland (Burlington, Mass.) and Kristyn Grattan (Hanover, Mass.) claimed the MASCAC/Alliance title in the 4x800-meter relay (9:57.68). 

Senior Krysta Zbikowski (Ashburnham, Mass.) captured the MASCAC individual crown in the 3,000-meter steeplechase (11:54.52) and finished second in the Alliance results.

Junior Ariele Krevosky (Oxford, Mass.) won the MASCAC triple jump title (35'3"/10.74m) and placed third in the Alliance.

Westfield State place third (161 pts.) in the MASCAC standings followed by Fitchburg State(99 pts.) and Mass. Maritime (6 pts.).

The University of Southern Maine won the New England Alliance championship with 145 points, followed by Bridgewater State and Westfield State (108.5 pts.). Worcester State (103 pts.) and Keene State (84 pts.) rounded out the top five.

Next week the Bears will compete at the two-day Division III New England Championships hosted by MIT.