Springfield, Mass. - December 12, 2014 - Despite a 14-point performance from senior forward Jaimie Bickelhaupt (Brookfield, Conn.), the Springfield College women's basketball program fell to Worcester State, 63-57, in non-conference play on Friday evening in Blake Arena.

With the loss, the Pride fall to 2-4 overall on the season, while the Lancers improve to 6-3. Springfield finished the contest shooting 22-for-66 (33.3%) while, Worcester State finished shooting 22-for-49 (42.9%) from the field. 

Along with Bickelhaupt, sophomore guard Lexi Windwer (Milton, Mass.) posted an impressive performance, including 11 points and seven rebounds, while freshman forward Heather King (Lebanon, N.H.) registered 12 points and four rebounds in the loss. For the Lancers', Julie Frankian (Millbury, Mass.) led the way with 21 points, while Bianca Langford (Worcester, Mass.) chipped in with 16 points and a game-high 18 rebounds. 

After jumping out to an 8-2 lead on the Lancers following a pair of free-throws from Bickelhaupt, Worcester State evened the game at eight points apiece after a three-point play from Nani Perez (Worcester, Mass.). 

Down 18-12 midway through the opening half, Springfield brought the game to within four after a three-pointer from Danielle Racette (North Adams, Mass.) and an elbow jumper from King.

Down 25-21 with 4:22 remaining in the first half, the Pride went on a 7-2 run to end the stanza, including five-straight points from Windwer to give the Pride a 28-27 lead at the break.

With the score even 30, the Lancers went on a 8-0 run, capped off by a three-point play from Shannen El-Qasem (Rutland, Mass.). From there, Springfield crawled back into the contest, when back-to-back baskets from King brought the Pride to within a pair with 9:14 remaining, forcing a Lancer timeout.

After Bickelhaupt evened the score at 40 apiece, Brianna Hackett (Hollis, N.H.) hit a deep three to give the Lancers a 43-40 lead. Down 45-43 with 5:23 remaining in the contest, Windwer hit a three-pointer to give the Pride a 46-45 lead. After the Lancers' regained its three point cushion before Heather Lewis (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.) converted two from the free-throw line to cut the Pride's deficit to just one.

Bickelhaupt then pulled the Pride back to within two after knocking down a free-throw, Frankian scored five-straight points of her own to put the visitors up by seven. The Pride were not able to climb back into the contest, as the Lancers escaped with the six-point victory.

The Pride will be back in action on Saturday, December 20 when it will travel to Daytona Beach, Fla. to play SUNYIT in the first round of the Daytona Beach Shootout. The game is slated for 4 p.m.