WESTFIELD, Mass. – Sophomore Jordan Grant (Gray, ME) and Senior Melissa Gray (Peabody, Mass.) combined for 44 points as Westfield routed MCLA, 106-37.
The Owls climb to 11-9 on the season, and 5-2 in conference play after defeating MCLA on Sunday afternoon at the Woodward Center in Westfield, Mass. MCLA, which played with just six players and missing several regular starters, slipped to 0-16 overall and 0-6 in the MASCAC.
Jordan Grant led the Owls in scoring with a career-high 23 points, and Melissa Gray was right behind her with 21 points and 6 rebounds. Lauren Legere (Bedford, Mass.) and Maddie Pond (Holyoke, Mass.) both reached double digits with 11 & 10 points respectively.
MCLA struggled to overcome Westfield's full court press, turning the ball over 22 times resulting in a 47-point lead at the half. Brooke DiGennaro (Pittsfield, Mass.) shined for the Trailblazers, but the team faltered as a whole in the absence of several key players. The Blazers' Shannon Carney picked up her fourth foul early in the second quarter, further limiting MCLA's rotation.
Westfield started the game with a 30-point first quarter, fueled by their fast pace on both sides of the floor. The second quarter was more of the same, with the Owls forcing turnovers, and scoring in the paint at will. Gray made 4-9 three pointers through two quarters, and Westfield led 60-13 at halftime.
DiGennaro got it going in the second half, with 16 of her 25 points coming in the final two quarters. The Owls were consistent and accurate, hitting 8 of 19 threes in the half, including three fourth quarter triples from Legere.
Junior Brooke DiGennaro (Pittsfield, Mass.) was a bright spot for MCLA, as she led the Trailblazers in scoring with 25 points along with 10 rebounds. Shannon Carney (Averill Park, NY) had 6 points and 4 steals, while Maddie Teta (Troy, NY) recorded 4 points, 4 rebounds and 7 assists.
Westfield hosts a rematch against the conference leading Framingham State Rams, which will also feature the Athletic Director's 3.0 reception for high achieving student-athletes, with a special presentation at halftime of the game.. MCLA travels to Fitchburg State on Wednesday, February 2nd at 5:00 PM.