Women's Basketball Defeated By Bears In Conference Action

Harlow finishes with team-leading 15 points for Green & Gold

Fitchburg, Mass. – The Fitchburg State University Women's Basketball team suffered a tough 85-58 setback to the Bears of Bridgewater State this afternoon in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) action from the Parkinson Gymnasium.

 The Basic

Score: Fitchburg State 58, Bridgewater State 85

Records: Fitchburg State (3-20, 0-8 MASCAC) I Bridgewater State (16-6, 8-1 MASCAC)

How It Happened

1st quarter

Bridgewater State grabbed a 12-3 lead on a bucket from senior Arilelle Cleveland  (Groveland, MA) before the Fitchburg State answered on layup from junior Alexis DeSimone (Ashburnham, MA) to make the score 12-6/

The Falcons trimmed the deficit to 18-10 as DeSimone hit a jumper, but the Bears pushed the advantage to 24-12 when senior Kylie Grasse (Plymouth, MA) connected on a layup.

2nd quarter

The visitors pushed the margin to 36-12 with freshman Chloe Azoff (Sandwich, MA) netting a basket, but the Green and Gold answered back with senior Stephanie Hart (Shirley, MA) notching a jumper (36-14).

Bridgewater State upped the advantage to 48-23 as junior Haley Burchhardt (Schenectady, NY) hit a layup before senior Rylie Harlow (Hanson, MA) registered a layup for the Falcons to make the score 48-25 going into the break.

3rd quarter

Following the intermission, Fitchburg State trimmed the lead to 54-38 when junior Kaelynn Tanner (Lowell, MA) and senior Kathryn Hart (Shirley, MA) connected on back-to-back three-pointers before senior Jordan Peebles (Middleboro, MA) upped the lead for the Bears to 57-39 with a free-throw.

Bridgewater State extended the margin to 74-55 with newcomer Bridgett O'Sullivan Van Eten (Cumberland, RI) notching a layup, but the Green and Gold responded as Harlow and K. Hart netted bucket to reduce the deficit to 75-48

4th quarter

Fitchburg State trimmed the lead to 79-52 when DeSimone and senior Morgan Genness (Belgrade, ME) notched baskets, but Bridgewater State pushed the margin to 81-52 as senior Kylie Grassi (Plymouth, MA) hit a jumper.

The Green and Gold responded when newcomer Emma Adisa (Houston, TX) and K. Hart registered buckets before the visitors secured the victory on a free-throw from freshman Shania Gardner (Brockton, MA), resulting in the 85-58 final.

Inside the Numbers

• Falcons were led by Harlow with a team-best 15 points, seven rebounds, three assists and two steals
• K. Hart added ten points, seven boards, two assists and two steals
• For the Bears, Grassi finished with a game-leading 19 points, five caroms, one assist and one steal
• Cleveland chipped in with 12 points, 11 rebounds, three assists, assists and one steal
• 78th meeting between the Falcons and Bears on the basketball court with Fitchburg State 15-62 all-time when taking on Bridgewater State
• Fitchburg State shot 23-for-73 (31.5%) from the field and (4-of-26) 715.4% from three-point range
• Bridgewater State went 32-of-76 (42.1%) overall and (8-for-26) 30.8% for beyond the arc
• Bears finished with a 56-52 Clevelandmargin on the glass

Up Next

Falcons return to action on Wednesday as they travel to Salem State to take on the Vikings in MASCAC action, starting at 5:00PM.