Grant, Hadla Lead Owls to Victory over Worcester, 80-69

Westfield, Mass. – The Westfield State women's basketball team improved to 3-0 in conference play after defeating Worcester State 80-69 on a Saturday afternoon from the Woodward Center in Westfield, Mass. Owls head coach Andrea Bertini recorded her 300^th career victory in the winning effort. The game marks the Owls first home game since December 11^th due to the holiday break followed by three postponed home contests.

Sophomore forward Jordan Grant (Gray, Maine) scored a team-high 18 points while collecting nine rebounds, and sophomore guard Olivia Hadla (Westfield, Mass.) followed her season high scoring output with 17 points on five of seven shooting from the floor (3-5 from three-point range).  

The Owls gained separation at the conclusion of the first quarter as sophomore guard Jordyn Lummus (Pittsfield, Mass.) found Hadla, who buried a deep three as time expired to put the Owls up six. The Owls would finish strong once again at the end of the first half, as a Grant step-through lay-in capped off a 10-1 run, putting Westfield up 14 heading into the break.

The Lancers would answer in the opening minutes of the third quarter as consecutive baskets by senior Gigi LeMay (Grafton, Mass.) would trim the deficit to eight points. The Owls would ramp up their defensive intensity late in the quarter as Lummus forced a turnover and then connected with senior guard Isabella Aitken (Pittsfield, Mass.) who drilled a corner three to put the Owls up 13. On the ensuing possession, scrappy defense by Lummus again forced a Lancer turnover which led to Owl free throws as well as an 18-point lead after three quarters.

Worcester State closed the game on a 9-0 run, but ran out of time as the Owls held a double-digit lead throughout the quarter.

Senior guard Melissa Gray (Peabody, Mass.) registered a double-double (12 points and 11 rebounds) with five steals, and first-year point guard Lila Labrie (Southampton, Mass.) was the fourth Owl player to finish in double-figures with ten points.

Junior guard Elizabeth Gallella (Tewksbury, Mass.) stuffed the stat sheet for the Lancers as she finished with a game-high 19 points, 14 rebounds, six assists, and nine steals. LeMay and first-year forward Abby St. Martin (Putnam, Conn.) each recorded double-doubles.

The Owls shot 39.4% from the field (28-71) and 25.0% from deep (7-28). The Lancers took all of their shots inside of the perimeter in the game, connecting on 31 of 72 shots (43.1%) while not attempting a three-pointer. Westfield State shot a reasonable 17-22 from the free throw line (77.3%) compared to seven makes in thirteen tries for the Lancers. Worcester also held a 51-39 rebound advantage with points in the paint being even at 40 apiece.

Westfield State (7-7, 3-0 MASCAC) will carry a five-game winning streak into their next match-up as the Owls will host Bridgewater State on Wednesday at 5:30 P.M. from the Woodward Center in Westfield, Mass. Worcester State (5-7, 0-1 MASCAC) will return home to face Fitchburg State on Wednesday at 5:30 P.M.