Worcester, MA --- Springfield junior Jaimie Bickelhaupt (Brookfield, CT) registered a double-double with 16 points and ten boards to help lead the Pride past Worcester State, 54-40, in non-conference women's basketball action this evening at WPI's Harrington Auditorium. 

Springfield (5-3) was also paced offensively by senior Tamara Tribble (White Plains, NY) who netted eight points and had five rebounds and third-year Andrea Moschetta (Harrison, NY) who had an all-around solid effort with five points, five assists and five steals.

Worcester State (3-7) was led by senior Meaghan Burns (W. Brookfield, MA) who scored a game-high 19 points in the setback. 

The game remained within one score for the majority of the first-half before the Pride used an eight point spurt to grab the 21-14 edge with 3:54 remaining before the intermission. The rally was bookended with jumpers by Bickelhaupt and sophomore Heather Lewis (Saratoga Springs, NY).

The teams traded baskets heading into halftime as Burns sandwiched a pair of baskets with another field goal from Lewis for the 23-18 score after the opening stanza. 

Springfield grabbed their first double-digit lead of the contest after Tribble converted a lay-up with 15:38 to play for the 28-18 score. They maintained their advantage for much of the second frame ballooning the margin to 13 points after a bucket from Moschetta with 6:12 remaining.

The Blue and Gold managed to get to within nine after a made jumper from Burns with 2:46 left and a late trifecta from sophomore Julie Frankian (Millbury, MA) for the score 50-40 with 37 ticks remaining, but the Lancers comeback efforts fell short as Springfield dribbled out the clock. 

The Pride shot 24-of-58 (41 percent) from the field while Worcester State managed just 15-of-52 (29 percent) from the field and only saw one of their 19 tries fall from behind the arc.

Springfield dominated the paint as they out-rebounded the hosts (42-32) and dropped 28 points inside as WSU netted just eight points in the key. The Pride also led in points off turnovers (23-10), second chance baskets (16-6) and bench scoring (15-8).

Both squads take time off for the holidays as Worcester State returns to action as they host Keene State on Tuesday January 7th at 12 PM and Springfield battles Maine Maritime in the Naismith Tournament on New Years Eve.

Story by John Hanna --- Sports Information Graduate Assistant

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