Women's Basketball Rolls to 102-67 MASCAC Win over Fitchburg

FITCHBURG, Mass. – Sophomore guard Hannah Dziadyk (Wakefield, Mass.) scored a game-high 19 points and junior center Destiny Fitzgerald (Medford, Mass.) tallied 18 to lead the visiting Bridgewater State University women's basketball team to a 102-67 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) victory over Fitchburg State University on Wednesday evening at Parkinson Gymnasium.

Bridgewater State improves to 7-10 on the season and 3-1 in the MASCAC, while Fitchburg State falls to 4-12 overall and 2-2 in conference play. The Bears, who hit the century scoring mark for the second straight game, are now 55-15 all-time versus the Falcons.

Dziadyk connected on 5 of 9 three-point field goals and added three rebounds, two assists and a pair of steals in 19 minutes off the bench. Fitzgerald went 9-for-11 from the floor and pulled down a team-best seven rebounds with four coming off the offensive glass.

Sophomore guard Olivia Dziadyk (Wakefield, Mass.) added 15 points, five rebounds, two assists and three steals for the Bears, while freshman guard Kyle Piché (Bridgewater, Mass.) checked in with 12 points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals, and senior guard Nicole Bostick (East Taunton, Mass.) contributed ten points, three rebounds and three assists.

Bridgewater led 24-15 after one and used a 13-0 run during a four-minute stretch of the second quarter to open up a 20-point lead (45-25). Fitzgerald and Olivia Dziadyk tallied four points apiece during the spurt which was capped off by a three-pointer by freshman guard Sophia Gaucher (Lakeville, Mass.). The Bears would take a 48-30 advantage into the break.

Fitzgerald and Olivia Dziadyk tallied 12 points apiece in the first half for the Bears who shot 50% (21-42) from the floor over the opening 20 minutes. The Falcons hit on just 35% (11-31) of their first-half field goal attempts.

After maintaining the double-digit advantage throughout the third quarter, the Bears dominated the fourth outscoring the Falcons 35-14 in the period. A 12-0 run midway through the final quarter put the game well out of reach as the Bears led 93-61 with just over four minutes left to play. Olivia and Hannah Dziadyk each connected on three-pointers during the run while freshman guard Ainsley Jolin (Rehoboth, Mass.) capped it off with a pair of free throws. Bridgewater would take its biggest lead of the game at 37 points (102-65) following a three-pointer by freshman forward Kayley Lacombe (Weymouth, Mass.) with 11 seconds showing on the scoreboard.

Bridgewater shot 55% (42-76) for the game including 12-for-28 (43%) from behind the arc. The Bears also forced 22 turnovers and finished with a decided edge in points off turnovers (36-8), points in the paint (58-32) and second chance points (20-9). The BSU bench also outscored the Fitchburg reserves by a margin of 41-21.

The Falcons connected on 40% (25-62) of their field goals attempts and went 6-for-18 (33%) from three-point range and 11-for-18 (61%) at the free throw line.Senior guard Catherine Coppinger (Boston, Mass.) paced Fitchburg State with 16 points and a game-high 11 rebounds as she recorded double-double of the season. Junior guard Payton Holmes (Carver, Mass.) added 11 points for the Falcons.

The MASCAC schedule continues for both teams on Saturday afternoon. The Bears entertain Framingham State University at one, while the Falcons host Worcester State University at noon.