Cobleskill, N.Y. - Westfield State's Melissa Gray (Peabody, Mass.) scored 23 points and set the Owls career three point shooting record as the Owls topped SUNY-Cobleskill 66-58 in a hard-fought non-league game on Thursday night.
Gray shot 6-11 from behind the arc, and set the Owls record for career three pointers with 290, passing her head coach, Andrea Bertini '96, who held the previous record of 287 for the last 26 years.
The evening was a contrast in defensive styles as the visiting Owls turned the Fighting Tigers over 39 times on the evening with their full-court pressure that generated 25 points off those turnovers while the Cobleskill half-court defense held the visitors to only 21-of-85, 24.7%, including a 9-of-39, 23.1%, from three-point range on the evening.
However, in the fourth quarter with the score at tied 46-46 the Cobleskill offense went cold managing only 12 points as the Owls pulled away for the non-conference win on the strength of a 20-point period.
Jordan Grant added 13 points and six rebounds for the Owls, who were playing their fourth game in five days due to COVID-19 rescheduling. Gray added seven rebounds in playing for the first time in a week due to protocols, and the Owls also played without senior forward Paris Wilkey, who was out with an injury. Olivia Hadla added 11 points.
Sophomore forward Hannah Cater, (Schoharie, N.Y./Schoharie High School), turned in an impressive stat-line in defeat for the home team going for 20 points, 12 rebounds, five assists and five blocked shots on the evening. Junior center Jordan Finch,( East Meredith, N.Y./South Kortright High School), was also a factor in the game with eight points and three rebounds with junior center Sierra Delaney, (Ballston Spa, N.Y. /Ballston Spa High School), adding seven points, seven rebounds and three blocked shots on the night.
The Fighting Tigers will next return to North Atlantic Conference (NAC) play on Saturday January 29 when they host the Broncos of SUNY Delhi with tip-off at 3:00 p.m. Westfield State will be back in action on Saturday, when they are scheduled to host MCLA at 1:30 p.m.
(portions of story courtesy Cobleskill Sports Info)