Worcester, MA- Looking to figure out their final season for the conference tournament, the Worcester State Women's Basketball team (8-13, 2-5) is primed to take on Bridgewater State (14-6, 6-1) in a grudge match on their home court this evening. Tonight's game is also in partnership with the Rosen Cancer Awareness Fund, created by Gregg '86 and Pam '87 Rosen, which aims to provide a robust curriculum that supports peer to peer education regarding early cancer detection. Raising Awareness in our young people, particularly Worcester State students in the field of public health, can effectively expedite these important educational initiatives to curb the prevalence of late stage cancer and increase longevity.
Preceding tonight's game the Lancers will also be honoring their senior student athletes of fifth year senior Katie Hurynowicz (Tynsgboro, MA) and senior Abby St. Martin (Putnam, CT).
Final
Worcester State: 66
Bridgewater State: 71
How it Happened:
Bridgewater State would open the first to score, starting the game off with a 5-0 early lead. Early in the quarter the Bears would jump up toa 14-6 lead but Worcester would then ignite. Near the end of the first the Lancers had worked to close the gap to 8-14 and the final first horn seeing the score settle at a 20-14 Bridgewater lead.
Bridgewater would look to expand their lead in the second but the hard dedication of Worcester State would see Worcester begin to take control. A basket from sophomore Hannah Lomonaco (Northbridge, MA) tied the game with some crucial free throws settling the score 21-21, then took the lead 23-21 again on additional foul shots. With five minutes remaining in the quarter the score would remain tied 25-25. Lomonaco helped Worcester take the lead again making the score 26-25 but a late surge from the Bears would find them regaining control before the close of the half. With the end of the quarter turning into a back and forth battle between both teams Bridgewater would hold on to the 36-32 lead at the half.
Worcester would look to continue their comeback scoring first to make the game at 1 point difference and taking the lead 37-36. With just minutes remaining in the third Bridgewater has managed to expand upon their lead to have the score sit at 48-41 point lead. With each team throwing lots of physicality throughout the quarter sophomore Mia Haynes (Worcester, MA) and Hurynowicz came up with big scores for the Lancers offense. With just two minutes remaining in the quarter Worcester would close the game to just two points.
Bridgewater looked to expand their lead by being the first to score this quarter but Worcester was not willing to let the Bears get too far ahead. St. Martin would make a clutch two on her senior while sophomore Lena Waldron (Quincy, MA) came up with a big three to make the game only a five point difference. Waldron would goe two for two on foul shots making the score 71-66 with 23 seconds left. The Lancers would try to close out the game with a win but come up just short finishing the game 71-66 in Bridgewater's favor.
Lomonaco and Hurynowicz would each end the night with 18 points to lead the Lancers and continue to match in the rebound sector as well as they each ended the night with seven.
What's Next:
Worcester State (8-14, 2-6) returns to the court on Saturday at 2pm when they journey to Salem State for their second to last conference game of the season.