BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – The Bridgewater State University women's basketball team cruised to a 97-42 victory over visiting Fitchburg State University in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) matchup on Saturday afternoon at the Tinsley Center.

The Bears improve to 10-6 on the season and 2-1 in the MASCAC, while the visiting Falcons fall to 1-12 overall and 0-2 in conference play. Bridgewater has won 13 of the last 14 meetings of the two teams and 22 of the last 24. The Bears are also 63-17 all-time versus the Falcons since 1983.

Sophomore guard Caroline Tripp (Plymouth, Mass.) led all players with 16 points on 8 of 10 shooting in 22 minutes off the bench. Tripp also recorded four rebounds, two assists, a steal and blocked shot.Freshman guard Kylie Grassi (Plymouth, Mass.) added 15 points on 6 of 8 shooting to go along with four assists and four steals for the Bears, while senior guard Hannah Dziadyk (Wakefield, Mass.) tallied 12 points and senior center Destiny Fitzgerald (Medford, Mass.) checked in with ten points, eight rebounds, four assists and three blocks. Senior forward Hannah Moniz (Taunton, Mass.) rounded out Bridgewater's double-digit scorers with a career-high ten points on 5 of 7 shooting. Moniz also grabbed four boards, dished out a pair of assists and notched a steal.

All 12 Bears who appeared in the game scored. Freshman guard Eryn Rice (Medway, Mass.) tallied six points, five rebounds and two assists in 18 minutes off the bench. Junior guard Jordyn Lako (Attleboro, Mass.) corralled four rebounds, dished out three assists, tallied a team-high five steals and knocked down a three-pointer in 16 minutes of action.

Senior guard Lovashia Rosario (Worcester, Mass.) paced Fitchburg State with 11 points, three rebounds and a game-best six steals. Freshman guard Pena Niles (Billerica, Mass.) added nine points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals for the Falcons.

Bridgewater never trailed in the game. The Bears led 25-10 at the end of one and got up by as many as 25 points in the second quarter including the halftime score of 47-22.

Grassi scored 13 points over the first two quarters, while Tripp notched 12 points off the bench. The Bears shot 51% (20-39) in the first half. The Falcons connected on just 26% (9-35) of their first half field goal attempts.

The Bears continued to pull away in the second half as they led 75-35 at the end of three quarters of play. The lead ballooned to 50 (90-40 with 4:42 remaining in the fourth quarter and the final score of 97-42 was also the biggest lead of the game. The 97 points and 55-point margin of victory both marked season highs for Bridgewater State.

The Bears shot 53% (40-76) for the game and went 10-for-12 (83% ) at the free throw. Bridgewater forced 26 turnovers and held a decided edge in points in the paint (54-14), points off turnovers (24-6). The BSU bench also outscored the Fitchburg reserves, 50-7. The Falcons shot just 26% (17-26) for the afternoon, including 6-for-29 (21%) from behind the arc. 

In upcoming action, the Bears travel to MCLA on Wednesday evening for a 5:30 MASCAC game with the Trailblazers. The Falcons head to MCLA on Monday to take on the Trailblazers also at 5:30.