Falcons Fall Short in OT to Bridgewater State, 66-62

Enright drops a double-double in OT setback

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – Senior guard Rachel Kusz tallied a game-high 22 points including six three-pointers to lead the Bridgewater State University women's basketball team to a 66-62 victory over Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) foe Fitchburg State University on Saturday afternoon at the Tinsley Center.

The host Bears improve to 13-10 on the season and 7-4 in the MASCAC, while the Falcons fall to 13-9 overall and 4-6 in conference play.

Senior guard Laura Cote paced the Falcons with 15 points, five assists and an impressive 11 steals, while senior forward Megan Wodzinski and senior center Kristen Enright added 13 points apiece before fouling out in the extra session. Enright finished with a double-double as she also grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds, including six off the offensive glass, to go along with four blocks.

Kusz connected on 6 of 9 three-point attempts before fouling out late in the overtime period. Sophomore forward Jennie Lindland added 13 points, six rebounds, a blocked shot and a pair of steals in 26 minutes off the bench for the Bears, while junior guard Vanesa Conceicao contributed a game-high seven assists to go along with a team-best 11 rebounds, three blocks and a steal.

In a turnover plagued contest, the Bears jumped out to an early 11-6 lead on the strength of a trio of three-pointers by Kusz. Fitchburg picked up the defensive pressure and held the Bears scoreless over the next seven plus minutes. An 11-0 Fitchburg run put the visitors up 17-11 with 8:31 remaining in the opening stanza.

Later in the period, Enright knocked down a pair of free throws to give the visitors a 21-16 advantage with just under five minutes left to play. The Falcons however would not score again in the half. Six unanswered points by the Bears capped off by an off-balance buzzer-beating jumper by senior forward Megan Boutilette would stake the hosts to a 22-21 lead at the intermission.

Kusz led all first-half scorers with nine points, while Enright paced the Falcons with eight.

The second half was tightly contested as it featured seven ties and seven lead changes with neither team leading by more than five points.

With 2:21 left to play, Enright knocked downs a pair of free throws to knot the score at 51-51. After the Bears missed two free throws at the other end of the floor, the Falcons had the chance to take the lead but could not convert.  On the ensuing possession, BSU again missed two free throws, but again Fitchburg was unable to take advantage as the Falcons were whistled for an offensive foul.

Following a BSU turnover, Wodzinski drove to the hoop for a layup and was fouled.  She promptly buried the free throw to give FSU the 54-51 lead with just 35 seconds remaining in regulation. With the clock ticking down, Conceicao was fouled and made the first free throw attempt to cut the deficit to 54-52.  Conceicao missed the second and Melton grabbed the offensive rebound but could not convert on the put-back.  Sophomore guard Chelsea Saucier, however, pulled down another offensive board and was fouled with just 1.1 seconds showing on the scoreboard. Saucier calmly sank both free throws to send the game into overtime.

In overtime, after the traded points, a Kusz lay-up followed by a Lindland breakaway lay-up put the Bears up 62-58 with a minute and a half remaining.  Cote made 1 of 2 free throws to make it a three-point game, 62-59, with 1:13 showing on the clock.  Following a BSU miss, Wodzinski drained a three-pointer to tie the game up at 62-62 with just 41 seconds left.  Saucier was fouled after receiving the inbounds pass and once again calmly knocked down both free throws give the Bears a 64-62 lead.  After a timeout, the Falcons turned the ball over and Conceicao made 1 of 2 free throws to make it a three-point game, 65-62, with 15.3 seconds remaining.  Fitchburg was unable to connect at the other end of the floor, and Conceicao converted 1 of 2 at the line to seal the victory.

Saucier notched eight points in 19 minutes off the bench including the four clutch free throws.  Boutilette finished with eight points and nine rebounds, including five off the offensive glass, to go along with three assists, two blocks and two steals.

The two teams combined for 64 turnovers in contest with Bridgewater State accounting for 37 of those miscues.  The Falcons recorded 25 steals, led by Cote's 11, and held a 32-21 advantage in points off turnovers.  The Bears shot 33% (21-64) from the floor including 6-for-17 (35%) from behind the arc, while the Falcons connected on 31% (20-65) of their field goal attempts.  Both teams made 27 trips to the charity stripe.  Bridgewater converted 18 of 27 (67%) free throw attempts, while Fitchburg went 20-for-27 (74%) at the line.  

The MASCAC schedule continues for both teams on Tuesday evening. The Bears entertain Salem State University in their regular season finale at 5:30, while the Falcons host Worcester State University also at 5:30pm.

COURTESY OF BSU SID OFFICE