Falcons Fall to Bears, 77-65

FITCHBURG --- The Fitchburg State University women's basketball team suffered a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) setback, falling to the visiting Bridgewater State Bears by a 77-65 final score on its Play4Kay game Saturday afternoon at the Parkinson's Gymnasium.

With the win, Bridgewater State completes the regular season-sweep of the Falcons, and improves to 5-3 in league play.

Fitchburg State freshman Kyra Rose continued to lead the youthful Falcons, falling shy of a triple-double with game highs in points (19), assists (nine), and rebounds (eight). 

Bridgewater State had three starters finish in double-digits for points as senior Jennie Lindland (five rebounds) and junior Rhiana Page (six rebounds) led with 16 each, tied for a team-high, while senior Stephanie DeSantis added 14 points on 6-for-9 shooting.

After taking a 17-13 opening quarter lead, the Falcons overturned their momentum during the second as the Bears used a 24-7 scoring run – with Page, DeSantis, and senior Chelsea Saucier combining for twenty points – to establish a 37-24 lead into the lockeroom.

With 4:10 left in the third, senior Shabeli Villa finished a layup at the rim, sparking a 7-2 run, and reducing the gap to ten points for Fitchburg State. Bridgewater State quickly upped the difference back to double-digits, scoring seven unanswered to finish the third (62-45).

Late in the fourth quarter, Fitchburg State dropped ten consecutive points to again reduce the gap to ten points. Rose, knocked down a pair of free throws with 1:47 left, getting the deficit down to nine for the Falcons, but that was the closest they would come, as four points from Lindland secured the Bears victory.

Fitchburg forward Amy Connolly found herself in double-digits for scoring, picking up 15 points and tying a game-high for rebounds with eight in 28 minutes to lead the bench. Freshman guard Emma Thomson picked up nine points on a trio of three pointers. Villa contributed seven points and two steals while shooting 3-for-8. 

Bridgewater's Saucier logged 28 minutes, scoring nine points and finding eight assists. Sophomore Sara DaSilva added seven points and three rebounds. 

Throughout the contest, the Falcons shot 26-for-61 (42.6%) from the field while knocking down 6-of-12 (50%) from the free-throw line. The Bears were 32-for-67 (47.8%) shooting with 9-of-15 (60%) from the stripe. Fitchburg State held a slight-margin on the glass 39-to-37 while leading with 13 second chance points. Bridgewater State scored 30 of its points on turnovers, forcing 23 in the game.

Next up, Bridgewater State (10-11, 5-3 MASCAC) returns home for a 7:30 PM contest on February 8^th. Fitchburg State (9-11, 1-7 MASCAC) hosts MASCAC-rival Worcester State on the same day at 7:30 PM. 

Release courtesy of Fitchburg State student journalist Kyle Prudhomme ​