Bridgewater State Slips Past Fitchburg State, 88-80

Proffitt registers double-double in Falcons overtime setback

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. (January 17, 2009) - Sophomore Melissa Proffitt (Hubbardston, Mass./Quabbin Regional) notched a double-double as Fitchburg State fell to Bridgewater State, 88-80 in overtime of this afternoon's MASCAC conference contest.

Proffitt paced the Falcon attack with first second double-double of the season, recording 14 points and ten rebounds on 6-of-12 shooting from the floor. Senior Stephanie Payette (Townsend, Mass./North Middlesex) was one rebound shy of a double-double, totaling a game-high 20 points and nine boards. Junior Kari Averill (Barre, Vt./Spaulding) was also solid, connecting for a season-high 19 points on 7-of-14 shooting, including 4-of-6 from beyond the arc.

Sophomore Corey Cuddihy (Scituate, Mass./Scituate) led the Bridgewater State offense with a team-high 18 points and four rebounds, while freshman Shelly DePina (New Bedford, Mass./New Bedford) collected 15 points and eight caroms. Junior Brittany Chappron (Braintree, Mass./Braintree) chipped in with 15 points, four assists and two steals.

Fitchburg State grabbed a seven point advantage at the break, 32-25, as Payette tallied 13 points and eight boards in the first half. Sophomore Carolyn Swanson (Stoughton, Mass./Cardinal Spellman) and freshman Ciara Shaughnessy (Lowell, Mass./Lowell) totaled six points apiece for the Bears, but Averill netted seven points and added three steals to lift the Falcons to an early lead.

In the second half, Bridgewater State roared back, outscoring Fitchburg State 49-42 in half to knot the score at 74-74. Cuddihy and Chappron led the Bears comeback with 11 points apiece, while Averill deposited 12 for the Falcons.

In the extra frame, Bridgewater State came out firing, out-scoring Fitchburg State 14-6 in the frame. The Bears earned the lead at the free-throw line, hitting 12-of-14 shots in the overtime period, while Fitchburg State shot just 3-of-12 from the floor.

Fitchburg State (8-6, 1-1 MASCAC) will host Worcester State College on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. Bridgewater State (9-6, 2-1 MASCAC) will face Worcester State on Thursday at 5:30 p.m.

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Bridgewater State 88, Fitchburg State 80