BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – The visiting Bridgewater State University women's basketball team cruised to a 97-53 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) victory over Fitchburg State University on Wednesday evening at Parkinson Gymnasium.

The Bears, who swept the season series, improve to 17-7 on the season with their seventh straight win and 9-2 in the MASCAC. The 17 wins mark the most in a season for the Bears since the 2012-2013 campaign (23-4). The Falcons fall to 2-20 overall and 1-10 in conference play. Bridgewater has won 14 of the last 15 meetings of the two teams and 23 of the last 25. The Bears are also 64-17 all-time versus the Falcons since 1983.

Freshman center Jannise Avelino (Peabody, Mass.) paced Bridgewater State with a career-high 23 points to go along with seven rebounds (three offensive) and four steals. Avelino connected on 10 of 15 field goal attempts and went 3-for-4 at the free throw line.

Junior guard Sophia Gaucher (Lakeville, Mass.) added 15 points in 17 minutes off the bench for the Bears, while senior forward Hannah Moniz (Taunton, Mass.) checked in with a career-high 14 points and seven rebounds in 13 minutes off the bench. Gaucher went 6-for-8 from the floor, including a pair of three-pointers, and notched three rebounds, an assist and a pair of steals. Moniz knocked down 7 of 9 shots from the field.

Sophomore guard Caroline Tripp (Plymouth, Mass.) rounded out the Bears double-digit point producers with ten points on 4 of 5 shooting, Tripp also went 2-for-2 at the line and added three assists and three steals.

The game was close for the first four minutes of the contest as Bridgewater held a 9-7 lead. The Bears then went on a 12-2 run, highlighted by seven points from senior center Destiny Fitzgerald (Medford, Mass.), to open up a double-digit advantage. Bridgewater led 33-12 after one quarter of play and took a 63-24 lead into the break. The Bears got up by as many as 44 points (69-25) in the second half and coasted to the victory.

The Bears shot 53% (40-75) from the floor and forced 27 Fitchburg turnovers, thanks in large part to 16 steals, which led to a 34-14 advantage in points off turnovers. Bridgewater also finished with a 62-20 edge in points in the paint.

Senior forward Jadelen Harold (Nantucket, Mass.) paced the Falcons with 15 points and six boards, while freshman guard Allison Prentis (Mansfield, Mass.) notched 12 points, three rebounds and a pair of assists.

Fitchburg shot 36% (19-53) for the game including 7-for-17 (41%) from three-point range. The Falcons also went 8-for-18 (44%) at the charity stripe.

Both teams wrap up MASCAC regular season play later this week. The Bears entertain the Trailblazers of MCLA on Friday evening at 5:30, while the Falcons travel to Westfield State University on Saturday to take on the Owls at noon. Bridgewater will hold Senior Night festivities prior to the start of the game.