Framingham Outlasts Owls, 77-72

WESTFIELD, MASS. – Westfield State senior guard Melissa Gray (Peabody, Mass.) poured in 25 points and 12 rebounds, but Framingham State was able to secure the 77-72 victory on a Wednesday night from the Woodward Center in Westfield, Mass.

The Owls drop to 11-10 and 5-3 in the MASCAC after the loss while the Rams move to 16-3 on the season, and an undefeated 8-0 record in conference play. 

Framingham received significant contributions from all five starters, with all of them logging double digit scoring. Camille Desrochers (Westford, Mass.) and Flannery O'Connor (Amesbury, Mass.) scored 18 apiece while O'Connor also recorded ten rebounds to secure the double-double. Rams forward Katty Haidul (Gilford, NH) also added a double-double with 15 points and a game-high 18 rebounds. Gwendoyln Carpenter (Ashley Falls, Mass.) had 16 points to go along with 9 assists, and Krysta Padellaro (Newburyport, Mass.) chipped in 10 points of her own.  

Owls sophomore forward Jordan Grant (Gray, Maine) added 15 points on an efficient six of ten shooting, while sophomore guard Olivia Hadla (Westfield, Mass.) was the third Owls player in double figures, scoring 13 points and compiling five assists and four rebounds.

The game was extremely back and forth, with the lead changing seven different times. Both teams had success from downtown in the first half, as each side shot 6-13 from three-point range, including a buzzer beater three from Desrochers to put Framingham up 40-36 at half. Westfield was unable to reclaim the lead after that. 

Westfield won the first quarter 20-17, with strong starts from both Hadla and Grant. Desrochers caught fire in the second quarter making four three pointers as Framingham gained control. Gray kept Westfield in the game scoring eight points in the frame. 

Both teams went cold to start the second half, except for O'Connor who scored 10 of Framingham's 14 points in the third. The quarter ended with a buzzer beater three from Hadla to bring the score to a reasonable 54-48 in favor of Framingham. Grant and Gray both logged big fourth quarters, but the Rams had an answer each time. Carpenter's eight made free-throws in the final thirty seconds were enough to solidify the lead and hold off the Owls late game push. 

Westfield's next game is a matchup against Salem State at 12:00 PM on Saturday at the Woodward Center. Framingham State returns home to play Fitchburg State on Saturday at noon as well. 

Story written by Nate Moskowitz – Westfield State Sports Information Student Intern