Buzzards Bay, Mass. — Bridgewater State University has earned the top seed in the 2012 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference Women’s Basketball Championships, which begin on Tuesday, February 21st with quarterfinal round action and move to semi-final round play on Friday, February 24th before concluding with the league championship game on Saturday, February 25th.

Bridgewater State and second-seeded Salem State University earned byes into the semi-finals and will await the winners of Tuesday’s quarterfinal round contests, which will feature third-seeded MCLA hosting sixth-seeded Fitchburg State University at the Amsler Sports Center in North Adams, Mass. beginning at 7:00 p.m. EST and fourth-seeded Westfield State University hosting fifth-seeded Worcester State University at the Woodward Center in Westfield, Mass. beginning at 5:30 p.m. EST.

The two quarterfinal round winners will advance to the MASCAC semi-finals, which will take place on Friday evening at the Tinsley Center in Bridgewater, Mass. The Westfield State-Worcester State victor will take on top-seeded Bridgewater State in the first semi-final at 5:30 p.m. EST, while the MCLA-Fitchburg State winner will take on Salem State in Friday’s second semi-final beginning at 7:30 p.m. EST. The two semi-final winners will meet for the 2012 MASCAC Championship and the conference’s automatic berth into the NCAA Division III Women’s Basketball Championships on Saturday at Bridgewater State’s Tinsley Center beginning at a starting time that will be determined following Friday’s semi-final round match-ups.

Bridgewater State captured its second MASCAC regular season title in three seasons under Head Coach Bridgett Casey with an overall mark of 17-7 (10-2 in league play), and the Bears are led in scoring by senior forward Shelly DePina (New Bedford, Mass.) and junior forward Michaela Cosby (Walpole, Mass.), who each average 13.8 ppg. Salem State posted 11 regular season triumphs and went 7-5 in MASCAC action under first year Head Coach Michelle Cunningham, as the Vikings are paced by freshmag guard Rachel Carter (Merrimack, N.H.), who averages 13.4 ppg and 6.3 rebounds per contest.

MCLA posted a 13-12 regular season slate (6-6 in league play) under Head Coach Holly McGovern, as the Trailblazers are paced by the reigning MASCAC Player of the Year in senior forward Jen Wehner (Cooperstown, N.Y.), who averages 16.4 points and 11.4 rpg. Westfield State also posted a 13-12 mark with six victories in MASCAC action under Head Coach Andrea Bertini, as freshman guard Jen Ashton (Beverly, Mass.) leads the Owls at 15.6 ppg and 4.6 assists per outing.

Worcester State collected 12 regular season triumphs, including six in MASCAC play, under Head Coach Karen Tessmer this winter, and the Lancers are led by senior guard Kaleigh Charette (Fairhaven, Mass.), who averages 12.8 ppg and 7.7 rpg, while Fitchburg State rounds out this year’s field, as the Falcons posted a 16-8 regular season slate and notched four league victories under Head Coach Walter Paschal and are paced by sophomore forward Amy Fahey (Wilmington, Mass.), who leads the MASCAC in scoring at 23.5 points per game while adding 9.7 rebounds per contest.

Bridgewater State claimed the 2011 MASCAC Women’s Basketball Championship with a 47-42 victory over Westfield State at the Woodward Center in Westfield, Mass. last February 26^th. The Bears have won two of the last four league titles, while Salem State has captured 16 of the 22 conference tournament titles overall.

2012 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference Women’s Basketball Championships

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21^ST - QUARTERFINALS

Game #1: #5 Worcester State (12-13, 6-6) at #4 Westfield State (13-12, 6-6) 5:30 pm

Game #2: #6 Fitchburg State (16-8, 4-8) at #3 MCLA (13-12, 6-6) 7:00 pm

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24^TH – SEMI-FINALS (TINSLEY CENTER, BRIDGEWATER, MASS.)

Game #3: Westfield State/Worcester State winner at #1 Bridgewater State (17-7, 10-2) 5:30 pm

Game #4: MCLA/Fitchburg State winner vs. #2 Salem State (11-14, 7-5) 7:30 pm

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 25^TH – CHAMPIONSHIP (TINSLEY CENTER, BRIDGEWATER, MASS.)

Game #5: Semi-Final Winners TBD