BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- The two-time defending conference champion Framingham State University women's basketball team held off Bridgewater State University in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) matchup on Saturday afternoon at the Tinsley Center.

The Rams improve to 13-4 on the season and 5-2 in the MASCAC, while the Bears fall to 15-5 overall and 6-1 in conference play. Framingham has won 17 of the last 19 meetings of the two teams, while Bridgewater holds a 61-26 advantage in the all-time series.

Junior guard Gwendolyn Carpenter (Ashley Falls, Mass.) paced Framingham State with 19 points, eight rebounds (three offensive), nine assists and two steals as she nearly recorded a triple-double. Junior forward Katty Haidul (Gilford, N.H.) checked in with 20 points, six rebounds, two assists and two steals for the Rams, while sophomore forward Kelsey Yelle (South Easton, Mass.) came off the bench to post a double-double with 17 points and a game-high 13 rebounds (four offensive) to go along with a pair of steal in 30 minutes of action.

Junior forward Flannery O'Connor (Amesbury, Mass.) also record a double-double for Framingham State with 12 points and ten boards (three offensive). O'Connor also registered two assists, a steal and two blocked shots. The Rams also received ten points, two rebounds and two assists from sophomore guard Katherine Haselton (Greenfield, Mass.).

Sophomore forward Kylie Grassi (Plymouth, Mass.) led the way for Bridgewater State with a career-high 30 points to go along with seven rebounds (three offensive), three assists, a game-high six steals and two blocks. Senior guard Sydney Bradbury (East Bridgewater, Mass.) contributed 19 points, seven rebounds, five assists and a steal for the Bears, while senior forward Sophia Gaucher (Lakeville, Mass.) tallied 13 points, two rebounds, three assists and a block.

The game was knotted at 22-22 following a tightly contested first quarter. Framingham then held Bridgewater to just five points on 1 of 16 shooting in the second period. The Rams outscored the Bears, 19-5, in the session to take a 41-27 lead into the break.

Yelle sparked the Rams off the bench with 11 points and eight rebounds in the first half. Carpenter added nine first-half points for the visitor. Grassi led all players with 13 points over the first 20 minutes with 12 coming in the first quarter.

The Rams shot 50% (15-30) from the floor in the first half, while the Bears connected on just 22.6% (7-31) of their first-half field goal attempts. Both teams went 9-for-10 at the free throw line.

Bridgewater came out strong to start the second half outscoring the Rams 17-6 over the first seven minutes of the third quarter to pull to three (47-44). Grassi scored eight points during the spurt, including a pair of three-points plays, while Bradbury notched seven points highlighted by a pair of trifectas. Framingham, however, responded with seven straight points capped off by a Yelle layup to extend the lead to ten (54-44). The Rams would take a 54-46 lead into the final period.

The Bears pulled to within three points on two occasions late in the fourth quarter including a 73-70 deficit following a Bradbury jumper with 2:10 left to play. But Haidul answered with a layup and the Rams went 6-for-6 over the final 39 seconds to hold on for the 81-73 victory.

Framingham dominated the inside game as the Rams held a 42-18 advantage in points in the paint as well as a 17-3 edge in second chance points.

Bridgewater forced turnovers (but also committed 18 miscues). The Bears held a 22-17 differential in points off turnovers.

The Rams shot 45% (27-60) for the game and an impressive 92.6% (25-27) at the free throw line. The Bears shot 35.4% (23-64), including 11-for-32 (34.4%) from behind the arc, and went 16-for-19 (84.2%) at the charity stripe.

The MASCAC schedule continues for both teams on Wednesday night. The Bears travel to Salem State University to take on the Vikings at seven o'clock, while the Rams entertain the Owls of Westfield State University at 7:30.