Worcester, MA- In the final game of Winter Break the Worcester State Women's Basketball team (1-14, 0-2) hosted the 2023 MASCAC Champions Bridgewater State at Brissette Court. After some early bus trouble for the Bears delayed the start, the Lancers were hoping the unexpected shift would give them a leg up to grab win number one in the conference.
FINAL: Bridgewater State 66 | Lancers 55
HOW IT HAPPENED:
The first quarter senior guard Katie Hurynowicz (Tyngsboro, MA) drew the first point with a successful free throw attempt at the 8:10 mark in the first quarter to get the action started at Brissette Court. Junior forward Abby St. Martin (Putnam, CT) would get a layup in traffic while being fouled for an and-one opportunity with 5:50 left in the first quarter, a crucial bucket as points were hard to come by in the first. First-year forward Mia Haynes (Worcester MA) dished a pass to senior guard Nyah Thomas (Attleboro MA) for a nice layup. Sophomore Guard Siarra Francis (Marlborough MA) created a good pass to first-year center Alana Smith (Chicopee MA) inside the paint for the two. Hurynowicz pulled up for a shot inside the paint to score, going to the stripe as she was fouled converting the three-point opportunity. The score at the end of the first quarter was 15-13.
To start the second quarter, first-year guard and four-time MASCAC Rookie of the Week Lena Waldron (Quincy MA) got fouled and drilled both free-throws giving Worcester State their first points of the second quarter. Hurynowicz added to her point tally of six as she made both free throws after being fouled, her fourth point coming from the line. Haynes scored a bucket in the paint, giving the Lancers the lead with 4:30 in the second quarter. Hurynowicz after a layup threw a fastball off the backboard, the captain entering double-digit points with 10 on the bucket. That would put the point run for Worcester State to a halt as Bridgewater State led 32-25.
At the start of the second half, Hurynowicz inside the paint lobbed it up for two to give the Lancers first points of the second half. Hurynowicz made the corner three, her 15th on the day. Shortly after, Hurynowicz hauled down an offensive rebound, going back up with it for two, making it for her 17th point scoring 7/9 points by the Lancers in the second half. Hurynowicz made two free throws tallying 19 points followed by another layup for 21 in the afternoon. Haynes scored a layup and the final points of the third quarter.
The fourth quarter started with Hurynowicz adding to her monster day, scoring another layup for points number 23 on the day and 13 of the second half. Junior forward Abby St. Martin (Puntam CT) elevated from the free-throw line, scoring for two. Sophomore guard Cameron Watkins (Dracut MA) goes to the line for two and makes both free throws for her first points of the game with 5:56 remaining in the game. Hurynowicz goes to the free-throw stripe for two again, netting both for 26 points. Hurynowicz, facilitating the offense, once again was at the free-throw line for two, hitting at the line and tallying 27 points on the day and 17 in the second half. Watkins goes to the free throw for two and makes both with 3:06 to go in the 4th. St. Martin (Puntam CT lays it up for two with 1:56 to go for the team's final points of the day.
Hurynowicz finished with 27 points, 10 rebounds, and four steals continuing her dominant senior season. Waldron had 10 points with six rebounds.
The Lancers now sit at (1-15, 0-3) with the Bears moving to (8-9, 4-0). Worcester State will return to action Wednesday where they will travel to the North Shore to play Salem St. for a 5 PM tip.