Lady Bears ride six game winning streak to top spot in MASCAC

02/12/2014

By Emily Hayes

Comment Staff

Senior guard Colleen Hanscom has played well for the Bears, as she is avergaing 10 points and 5.5 rebounds per game. Jeremy Foote - Photo. — Senior guard Colleen Hanscom has played well for the Bears, as she is avergaing 10 points and 5.5 rebounds per game. Jeremy Foote – Photo.

Even with all they have accomplished the past three seasons, the Bridgewater State University women’s basketball team is trying to move one step closer to a goal that has eluded them for three years straight.

While the Lady Bears have won the past three Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) titles, they have faltered each year in the first round of the NCAA Div. III Tournament.

They hope to change that streak this season and look to be on pace to give it a shot.

The Bears are currently 14-9 and 8-2 in the MASCAC with only two games left in the regular season.

“I look forward to the challenges as we head into this next round of games,” said head coach Bridgett Casey. “It’s going to be very difficult and we can’t look at the big picture. We just need to focus on the next 40 minutes.”

The team may be focusing on one game at a time, but there is something on the minds of all the girls.

“We’re looking to win the MASCAC right now,” said junior guard Melissa Daigle.

The team has locked onto the same goal, as they try to make history by winning the MASCAC for the fourth straight time.

“First of all, we need to win the MASCAC,” said junior guard Rachel Kusz. “That’s the first thing that we worry about and then we worry about the NCAAs. It’s step by step basically, one goal at a time. Don’t think too far ahead.”

Even senior guard Jenna Williamson, who just became the Lady Bears’ all-time leading scorer on Saturday, is focused on finishing her career as a MASCAC champion.

“My ultimate goal is to win the MASCACs with the team,” Williamson said. “I’m not at all worried about the point scoring.”

The Lady Bears are trying to push forward as they approach the home stretch. Bridgewater State is playing their best basketball of the season right now, as they have currently won six games in a row.

“We’re looking to just keep improving every game and stay positive,” Williamson said. “We’re going into the second round of the conference games and we just need to stay together each game and try and win them all.”

At the end of the season, Bridgewater State will be losing some key players who have helped bring the program a long way in the past four years.

“It’s no secret how much we’re going to lose at the end of the season and you never want to look that far ahead,” said Casey. “We’re in for a big loss but again trying not to look too far ahead. There are three talented guards that are going to walk out of here at the end of the season.”

The Bears will play again on Saturday, Feb. 15 at Fitchburg State University at 1 p.m.

Emily Hayes is a Comment sports writer. Email her at e4hayes@student.bridgew.edu.