WESTFIELD, Mass. – Westfield State women's basketball returns to the Woodward Center this Wednesday night for a conference matchup against Fitchburg State, with tip-off set for 7:30 p.m.
Westfield comes into this game with a 13-8 overall record and a 4-3 mark in conference play. The Owls are riding a two-game winning streak and aim to extend it to three as they attempt to climb in the MASCAC standings. Fitchburg State is currently sitting at the bottom of the MASCAC with a 3-18 overall record and a 0-6 conference record.
In the first meeting between the two sides, Westfield State used a strong second half to pull away from the Falcons at Fitchburg, 88-70 as Fitchburg trailed the Owls by just three at the end of the first half before a 17-point third quarter advantage propelled Westfield to a win.
Westfield State is led by senior forward Jordan Grant (Gray, Maine), who ranks second in the MASCAC in scoring with an efficient 16.8 points per game and leads the conference with an impressive 50.2% shooting percentage. Grant has also been the Owls top contributor on the boards, leading the team with 5.9 rebounds per game, placing her eleventh in the conference.
Following Grant is senior guard Olivia Hadla (Westfield, Mass) as the Owls' second-leading scorer, averaging 14.6 points per game this season. Her ability to stretch the floor has been a key asset to the team offensively, as she remains highly effective playing as the focal point of the Owls second unit.
Grant and Hadla continue to rise on the Owls' all-time scoring list this season. Grant enters this contest with 1,404 career points which is sixth in program history, while Hadla follows closely behind with 1,392 points, good for seventh all-time.
After Grant and Hadla, senior guard Maddie Pond (Holyoke, Mass.) has been a reliable scoring threat from beyond the arc, averaging two made three-pointers per game and contributing 11.4 points per game. Pond comes into this contest following a team-high 18-point performance in the Owls' win over Worcester State on Saturday. In addition to her offensive contributions, she has been a defensive standout, leading the conference with an average of 3.7 steals per game. The last time the Falcons came to town, Pond set the single-game three-point record after burying 11 triples in a MASCAC Quarterfinals win over the Falcons during the 2023-24 season.
Fitchburg State is paced by senior guard Rylie Harlow (Hanson, Mass), who is averaging 15.2 points per game, placing her fifth in the conference in scoring. Behind Harlow, senior forward Stephanie Hart (Shirley, Mass) contributes 11.1 points per game, with much of her scoring coming from inside the paint. Hart also leads the team in rebounding, averaging an impressive 5.8 offensive rebounds per game which is third in all of Division III. Her 12.9 rebounds per game ranks her second in the conference.
With the postseason approaching and seeding still up for grabs, the Owls look to extend their two-game win streak on their home court this Wednesday. Follow along at WestfieldStateOwls.com for live scoring and live streams of the games.
Written by Tom Onorato - Sports Information Intern