Owls Fly Past Falcons, 96-61

WESTFIELD, Mass. – Kayley Downie (Easthampton, Mass.) was one of five Westfield State players to score in double figures, recording a game-leading 16 points as the Owls picked up a 96-61 road win at Fitchburg State in a MASCAC game on Wednesday night.

The Owls (13-5) improve to 5-2 in the conference and remain in a three-way tie for second place in the league standings. The Falcons drop to 1-6 in the MASCAC and 3-15 on the season.

Three different Owls registered career-high nights, starting with Downie who has recorded ten or more points in five straight games, making at least two three-pointers in each game. She buried four triples tonight which marks the fourth time this season Downie has reached such feat.

Jailyn Garvin-Martin (Springfield, Mass.) and Ashley Ames (Valatie, N.Y.) also secured season-best scoring outputs. Garvin-Martin, an addition to the roster for the second semester after transferring from Nichols College, also collected four three-pointers to go along with 14 points. Ames scored 11 points while converting three of five triples.

Sophia Rockwood (Windsor, Vt.) and Tavi Williams (Springfield, Mass.) also reached double digits with Rockwood scoring 13 points with five rebounds while Williams logged ten points and seven boards.

Westfield forced 33 turnovers and 22 steals with Caroline Galvani (Framingham, Mass.) leading the Owls with five steals. 11 different Owls recorded a steal in the game.

Kyelah Smith and Kaelynn Tanner both scored 15 points to lead Fitchburg's scoring attack. Erin McNamara chipped in eight points.

Westfield got off to a fast start by scoring 30 points in the first quarter, the most points totaled in an opening frame for the Owls this season. After a jumper from Tanner on the first possession of the game, Westfield led for the remainder of the contest with Downie answering with a triple on Westfield's first possession.

Williams pushed the lead into double digits, collecting an offensive rebound for a put back layup, then stole the ball and finished inside for a 17-6 advantage with 5:06 left in the quarter. Ames went on a mini five point run to extend the lead to 15 points in the closing minutes of the stanza.

The Owls led by 25 at the halftime break, getting baskets from Liana Wheelock-Bonet (Vernon, Conn.) and Christine Raymond (Easthampton, Mass.) to give Westfield a 53-28 lead.

Westfield outscored Fitchburg by ten points in the second half, further distancing themselves to secure the conference victory, leading by as many as 39 points early in the fourth quarter.

The Owls made and attempted a season-high in three pointers, connecting on 16 of 54 tries while shooting 37.8 percent for the game. Westfield won the rebounding battle 56-47, crashing the offensive glass with 28 boards, leading to 31 second chance points. The Owls turned 33 turnovers into 34 points off turnovers. 

After three straight road games, Westfield State returns to the Woodward Center for the second half of the conference schedule and will host Framingham State (5-2 MASCAC) on Saturday at 12:00 P.M. in a conference matchup that will have meaningful playoff implications for postseason seeding.