By Jim Fenton
BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- The Bridgewater State University women's basketball team is off to a 4-1 start after winning the Cave Classic on Saturday afternoon.
The Bears swept through the two-day tournament at the Tinsley Center, taking the championship with a 57-40 victory over Emerson College.
Senior Kylie Grassi (Plymouth, Mass.) was named the Cave Classic Most Valuable Player after getting 16 points with two steals in the final as BSU extended its winning streak to four.
Grassi was joined on the all-tournament team by graduate student Kylee Piche (Bridgewater, Mass.), who had 12 points, five steals, three rebounds and three assists.
Senior Jessica D'Amours (Feeding Hills, Mass.) was also in double figures with 10 points plus five rebounds and three steals. Haley Burchhardt (Schenectady, N.Y) chipped in with eight points, eight rebounds and three steals.
The Bears used defense to win their own tournament, holding the Lions (4-2) to 13 points in the second half after holding a 30-27 lead at the break.
"Defensively, we really stepped it up," said BSU coach Bridgett Casey who notched her 396th win. "To hold a college team to 40 points is pretty amazing.
"We have a defensive goal of 27 points or less in the first half and we hit that. To hold them to 13 points in the second, it was nice to see our defense play like that."
Sophomore Claire English (Winchester, Mass.) who made the all-tourney team, topped Emerson with 13 points and 17 rebounds plus four blocked shots while sophomore Kendra Dodd (Tampa, Fla.) added 12 points.
The Lions made only 3 of 22 shots in the second half and shot 31 percent from the field in the game.
BSU's pressing defense was a factor against a team that was minus its starting point guard.
"I think our press is coming along," said Casey. "That'll lead to easy transition baskets."
BSU extended its three-point halftime lead to 44-33 by the end of the third quarter despite shooting only 22 percent in those 10 minutes.
Emerson had only six points in the quarter and did not get a field goal until 3:45 remained in the quarter.
The Bears opened the half with a 6-1 run before English hit a foul shot with 6:17 left, then went on a 7-1 run after that.
Emerson was scoreless in the fourth quarter until a layup by English with 6:30 to go and the Lions didn't score again until 1:56 remained in the game.
The Bears, who never trailed, led by as many as 21 in the fourth quarter.
BSU opened the tournament with a win over Eastern Connecticut State on Friday night.
"Overall, we did a better job today," said Casey. "We had better shot selection. I thought we took care of the ball for the most part."
Grassi, the program's second leading scorer with 1,303 points, is 63 points away from breaking the record set by BSU Hall of Famer Jenna Williamson (2010-14).
Piche continues to be a key contributor at both ends. She graduated in 2023 and after taking a year off, returned as a graduate student for a final year of eligibility.
"The experience, the leadership, everything about her coming back has been great," said Casey. "One of the key reasons why we're 4-1 is because of her. She sets the tone defensively and offensively. She can fly down the court."
The Bears lost at Division 1 Bryant University to open the season but have put together four straight wins.
Now comes a test with Rhode Island College visiting the Tinsley Center for a 7:30 game Tuesday night.
Emerson travels to Endicott College on Tuesday for a 5 p.m. game.
Joining Grassi, Piche and English on the all-tourney team were Eastern Connecticut state senior Taylor Salato (East Haven, Conn.) and University of New England graduate student Faye Veilleux (Wrentham, Mass.).