Bristol Holds Off Women’s Basketball, 55-49

BROCKTON, Mass. ---- The Massasoit women's basketball team led by as many as 12 in the first half, but Bristol CC rallied to defeat the Warriors, 55-49, on Thursday night.

After holding a commanding lead for most of the first half and the beginning of the portion of the second stanza, the Warriors (0-7) went cold from the field shooting just 20 percent after intermission.

"We couldn't find the consistency in our offense," head coach Taryn Johnson said. "With the new additions to the team (Coulsey & Spivey) it is still a learning process and we are trying to be in sync on offense.

"It is a very different team with the two new players. We played hard and with a lot of heart. Everyone is bringing it every day at practice and we are getting better."

The Warriors led 29-27 at the break.

Up 37-29 with 16 minutes remaining, the Bees mounted an 11-1 run to lead 40-38.

Later in the second half with Massasoit trailing 48-40, the Warriors used an 8-0 spurt, capped by a Bryn Coulsey 3-pointer to knot up the game at 48-all. However, Bristol outscored the Green and White 7-1 over the final two minutes to earn the victory.

Tiana McQueen (Boston) finished with her seventh double-double of the season, netting 10 points and pulling down 17 rebounds. Six of her rebounds came on the offensive glass and she added five blocks.

Lauren Callahan (Bourne) netted a career-high and team-best 11 points in the loss. She produced a strong all-around performance with five rebounds, five steals and four assists.

Stephanie Robbins (Marshfield) chipped in with 10 points, while newcomers Bryn Coulsey (Rockland) and Marrissa Spivey (Brockton) added nine and seven points, respectively. Coulsey also pulled down 11 rebounds.

WHY MASSASOIT LOST: The Warriors struggled shooting the basketball both from the field and the foul line. Massasoit went over 12-and-a-half minutes with a basket in the second half, which proved to be the difference. For the game, Massasoit shot 29 percent from the field and 37 percent from the foul line (10-of-27).

NEW ADDITIONS MAKE IMPACT: In their first game at Massasoit, both Coulsey and Spivey made an immediate impact. Coulsey started and was a point shy of a double-double. She made a clutch 3-pointer to tie the game at 48 and six of her 11 boards were offensive. Spivey made her first three shots she attempted off the bench, including a 3 to finish with seven points.

STATS OF THE NIGHT: Massasoit pulled down a season-best 49 rebounds, featuring a team-high 19 offensive boards. Both Cousley and McQueen finished with six offensive boards apiece.

The Warriors also poured in a season-high 49 points and attempted their most field goal (62) and free throw attempts (27) in a game this season.

NEXT UP: Massasoit is set to take part in the NHTI Tournament in Manchester, N.H. this weekend. The Warriors will play at Noon on Saturday against NHTI before playing either Berkeley College or the University of Maine-Augusta on Sunday.