Women's Basketball Torpedos Vikings, 89-58

WESTFIELD, Mass. –   Westfield State University shot a blistering 72 percent from three -point range in the first quarter as the Owls ran out to a big lead en route to a 89-58 win over Salem State in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference women's basketball game at the Woodward Center on Wednesday night.

Westfield improves to 9-7 overall and 2-1 in the MASCAC, while Salem is 6-10, 1-2 in the league.

The Owls finished with five players in double figures led by 15 from Lila Labrie (Schenectady, N.Y./Hampshire (Mass.) Regional), who was 5-7 from long range in the game.   Olivia Hadla (Westfield, Mass.) and Jordan Grant (Gray, Maine) each added 12 points, Jess Gardner (Webster, Mass./Holy Name) netted 11 points and eight rebounds, and Lindsey Bohenko (Lowell, Mass./Central Catholic) finished with 10 points.   Octaviana Williams (Springfield, Mass/Minnechaug) grabbed nine rebounds to go with seven points.

Salem State was led by 21 points and 14 rebounds from Liz Zaiter (Peabody, Mass./Veterans Memorial), the only member of the Vikings to reach double figures in scoring. Alyssa Geness (Belgrade, Maine/Messalonskee) netted seven points, and Kylie Gates (Pembroke, Mass.) finished with six points and eight assists.

Westfield led 33-15 at the end of the first quarter after connecting on 8 of 11 shots from three-point land, and led 59-24 at the half.   The Owls played all 16 players on the roster, substituting liberally late in the game as the lead burgeoned to as many as 55 points.  Westfield made 16 of 41 shots from three-point range in the game and forced 40 Salem State turnovers which the Owls converted into 44 points.

Westfield State will be back in action on Saturday with a conference game at Worcester State that tips off at 2:00 p.m.    Salem State will be home Saturday to host Fitchburg State.