LEICESTER, Mass. -- The Bridgewater State College women's lacrosse team secured the top seed in the upcoming New England Women's Lacrosse Alliance (NEWLA) Tournament as the Bears defeated Becker College, 26-10, this afternoon in Leicester, Mass.

Bridgewater improves to 11-4 overall and 6-0 in the NEWLA.  The Bears have won 15 straight games against NEWLA opponents since rejoining the league prior to the 2008 season.

Junior Shannon Manning (Framingham, MA) paced the Bears with four goals, three assists, five ground balls and ten draw controls.

Junior Katie DeMaio (Port Jefferson Station, NY) notched five goals and four assists to go along with two ground balls and three draws.  Sophomore Jenny Jones (Framingham, MA) added three goals, five assists and three draws.

Freshman Kristin White (Pelham, MA) chipped in with three goals and three assists, while sophomore Patricia Maloney (Walpole, MA) and freshman Stephanie Lannon (Swampscott, MA) tallied three goals apiece.  Maloney also registered four draw controls.

Bridgewater held a 40-17 shot advantage as well as a 27-11 edge in draw controls.  The Bears also limited Becker sophomore Tammy Mullen (Pottstown, PA) to just a goal and an assist.  Mullen entered the game with an NCAA Division III record 114 goals on the season.

The Bears will host Fitchburg State College in the regular season finale tomorrow afternoon at 2 PM.  With a win over Fitchburg, BSC will take the NEWLA regular season outright.

The NEWLA Tournament will get underway on Wednesday as the Bears will take on fourth seeded Worcester State College in semifinal round action.