Owls Suffer First Conference Loss in 81-68 Loss to Bears

WESTFIELD, Mass. — Jordan Grant (Gray, Maine) scored 21 points but Westfield State fell short of Bridgewater State by a score of 81-68 at home in a MASCAC matchup between the two of the league's top three teams on Saturday afternoon.

Westfield falls to 11-6 overall and 3-1 in MASCAC play while Bridgewater moves to 12-6 overall and 4-1 in conference play, leapfrogging the Bears to first in the conference. Westfield and Bridgewater will meet once more in the regular season at the end of February.

The Owls started off hot in the first quarter as they scored 15 points and held the Bears to just four. Jordan Grant (Gray, Maine.) went four-for-five from the floor in the first frame for eight points.

Bridgewater responded in the second quarter from an offensive standpoint, scoring 33 in the second quarter and 13 points in just the first three minutes of the quarter. The Bears were able to come back from down 11 to tie it at half 37-37. The Bears had two women score eight points apiece in the second by way of Chloe Azoff (Sandwich, Mass.) and Jessica D'Amours (Feeding Hills, Mass.).

A highlight for the Owls in the second quarter was Olivia Hadla (Westfield, Mass.) as she led them in scoring with seven, including a three off the dribble and a pair of free throws. Grant led the game with 13 points at the half.

Coming out the break, both teams battled back and forth with leads until Bridgewater got a pair of free throws from former MASCAC player of the year, Kylie Grassi (Plymouth, Mass.) and extended the Bears lead to as much as 12. Westfield guard Tavi Williams (Springfield, Mass.) got a tough layup at the buzzer to go into the fourth down ten.

Heading into the fourth, Westfield cut the lead down to six multiple times but could not build off of it. Grant and Hadla finished the fourth with six points each, Grant finished with 21 points and nine rebounds and Hadla finishing with 15 points and nine rebounds as well.

Grassi led Bridgewater with 18 points and pulled down six rebounds and added five assists. Haley Burchhardt (Schenectady, N.Y.) finished with 16 points, converting all eight free throws on the night.

The Owls hit the road for their next MASCAC matchup at Salem State on Wednesday, January 29 for a 7:00 pm tip-off. Follow along at WestfieldStateOwls.com for live stats.

Written by Hunter Briggs - WSU Sports Information Graduate Assistant