Box Score
BRIDGEWATER, Mass. —  Eastern Connecticut State University women's basketball held off a late push from Bridgewater State to secure a 72-64 non-conference victory on the road Friday night at the Tinsley Center.

Led by junior forward Marissa Nudd (Colchester ) and sophomore guard Liv Cassesse (Wallingford), the Warrior duo combined for a total of 35 points, leading Eastern to a commanding road victory over the Bears.

Game Information:

• Score: Eastern Connecticut State University 72, Bridgewater State University 64
• Records: Eastern (4-6), Bridgewater State University  (1-6)
• Location: Bridgewater, MA | (Tinsley Center) 

Key Moments: 

First Quarter

• Eastern opened scoring with quick jumpers from junior forward Alyssa Paquette (Claremont, NH) and Nudd, gaining an early advantage. Though Bridgewater responded just as quickly, working the ball inside to find Emilie Von Der Linde, relying on her offensive put-backs to keep the Bears on even ground.
• Through the end of the first, both teams traded blows, each managing to come away with twelve points apiece. Eastern maintained a narrow two-point edge with Bridgewater following closely, courtesy of Haley Burchhardt's finesse to the basket before the buzzer, sending the Warriors into the second quarter with an 18-16 lead.

Second Quarter

• Bridgewater tied the game early in the second quarter as Burchhardt converted a give-and-go at the 9:50 mark. Eastern answered with back-and-forth baskets until the Bears pulled away midway through with an 8-point unanswered run highlighted by Savannah Azoff's three-pointer, then a diving steal and assist to set the score 30-22 with five minutes until half.
• Paquette, who knocked down a jumper to halt the Bears' run, ignited Eastern as Cassesse followed with a deep trey to get the Warriors back within fighting distance. A quick four-point burst from Paquette and Novak then pushed Eastern past the Bears by just three points heading into the half 33-30.

Third Quarter

• Eastern capitalized on their lead, opening scoring for the third with a quick layup to push the margin to five. Bridgewater responded from the paint briefly, before each team traded empty trips to the basket until Maddie Topa (New Hartford) knocked down a mid-range bucket at the 7:35, while Paquette followed closely with another bucket from inside to edge the gap.
• The Bears became offensively relentless, chasing the deficit with a Bradbury three, creating a one-point deficit with just five minutes to go.
• With pace quickened in the final five, Eastern fought to maintain its edge as both teams struggled to find offensive rhythm. Topa and Nudd converted inside to lengthen the lead for four quick points, while Cassesse freed up at the top of the key for a dish and drive to the basket while the Bears stayed quiet. Eastern coasted a three-point lead until the final ten seconds as Bridgewater's Johnson snuck past the defense for a hurried trip to the basket before the buzzer, tallying the score 49-48, Eastern ahead.

Fourth Quarter

• Eastern buckled down in the final frame; early points from Nevaeh King (Brockton, MA) and Cassesse tightened the lead, though Bridgewater fought to stay in the game with a brief 53-53 equalizer at the seven-minute mark.
• The relief was short-lived thanks to Nudd's put-back in the paint and Cassesse's critical three-pointer giving the Warriors breathing room.
• Bridgewater's Burchhardt and O'Sullivan continued the Bears' efforts, tacking on another equalizer and brief lead before Nudd's relentless efforts in the paint downed any chances of a comeback, grabbing four points in less than a minute while Cassesse fired another three from deep, along with five made three throws to cement the warriors' victory, finishing 72-64 at the buzzer.

Stats:

• Eastern Conn. St.: 26–58 FG (44.8%), 6–20 3PT (30.0%), 14–20 FT (70.0%)
  Bridgewater: 26–72 FG (36.1%), 7–22 3PT (31.8%), 5–8 FT (62.5%)
• Rebounds: Eastern 46,  Bridgewater 37
• Assists: Eastern 17, Bridgewater 16
• Turnovers: Eastern 24, Bridgewater 18
• Points in the Paint: Eastern 28, Bridgewater 30
• Second-Chance Points: Eastern 15, Bridgewater 11
• Fast Break Points: Eastern 0, Bridgewater 4
• Points off Turnovers: Eastern 18, Bridgewater 13
• Bench Points: Eastern 6, Bridgewater 21

Game Notes:

• Eastern Connecticut State surged past Bridgewater State in a non-conference match-up for a 72-64 victory on the road.
• Liv Cassesse led the team with 18 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists.
• The Warriors shot 44.8% from the field and 30.0% from three-point range.
•  Marissa Nudd added 17 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 assist to push the Warriors' victory.
• Maddie Topa and Alyssa Paquette grabbed 12 rebounds apiece, finishing with 13 points each while combining for four assists.

Up Next:
Eastern Connecticut State University women's basketball will host the University of Massachusetts Boston on January 3rd, 1:00 PM, at Geissler Gymnasium.