WESTFIELD, Mass. – Melissa Gray (Peabody, Mass.) and Jordan Grant (Gray, Maine) scored 19 points apiece to lead Westfield State to an emphatic 125-62 senior day victory over Fitchburg State on Saturday afternoon at the Woodward Center in Westfield, Mass.
Westfield recognized five seniors prior to tip-off: Jordan Halgas (Ware, Mass.), Isabella Aitken (Pittsfield, Mass.), Paris Wilkey (Lynn Mass.), Jenn Rennich (Bedford, Mass), and Melissa Gray.
Westfield finishes the regular season with a record of 14-11 and 8-4 in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference while Fitchburg ends the year 2-21 and 1-11 in conference play.
Six different players reached double figures for the Owls. Gray and Grant each scored 19 points, and Gray's four steals were enough to pass Holly Maines for the second most in program history. Seniors' Isabella Aitken and Paris Wilkey finished their final regular season games on a high note, with 15 and 12 points, respectively. Jordyn Lummus (Pittsfield, Mass.) stuffed the stat sheet with 14 points, seven assists, seven steals, and six rebounds. Alison Mendel (Adams, Mass.) was the last Owl to crack double digits, adding 13 points of her own.
The Owls had a historic game all around. Westfield started the game with a 40-point first quarter, just one-point shy of the record for points scored in a quarter. They continued to cement their place in the history books, as their 72-point first half is now the programs highest scoring first half ever. Westfield's 125 points in the game were a single point short of the record as well.
Westfield State controlled the game early, jumping out to a 40-9 first quarter lead. They sank five threes, and dominated defensively, forcing 18 turnovers in the frame. Fitchburg improved in the second quarter, shooting an efficient 45% from the field and 67% from three to log their highest scoring quarter of the game with 24 points. Westfield was equally efficient, scoring 32 points on the way to a 72-33 halftime lead.
Fitchburg State couldn't quite match their second quarter productivity to start the third, scoring 18 points to Westfield's 28, resulting in a 100-51 lead for the Owls. Westfield State would continue to control the game in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Falcons by 14 in the frame.
Rylie Harlow (Hanson, Mass.) knocked down four triples on her way to a team-leading 12 points for Fitchburg. Jadelen Harold (Nantucket, Mass.) put up a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Ephemian Bailey (Maple Grove, Minn.) had 10 points with nine rebounds, seven of which came on the offensive glass.
Along with recognizing five seniors, Westfield participated in the Think Pink initiative where spectators were asked "Stand Up to Cancer" during the third quarter to raise awareness for breast cancer.
Westfield State will enter postseason play next week as the Owls host a MASCAC Quarterfinals game on Tuesday at 7:00 P.M. from the Woodward Center in Westfield, Mass. with the opponent still to be announced.
