WESTFIELD, Mass. –Westfield State senior Maddie Pond (Holyoke, Mass.) scored a game-high 18 points as the Owls defeated Worcester State 83-61 in a MASCAC contest on Saturday afternoon from Worcester, Mass.
Westfield jumps to 13-8 (4-3) and is now sitting in a tie for third place with Salem State while the Lancers fall to 8-13 overall and 2-5 in the conference. The Owls won both regular season meetings this year after winning 77-64 at home earlier in the season.
The Owls outscored the Lancers 43-26 in the first half with Pond leading the charge with nine points for Westfield. Pond has now scored at least 15 points per game in three out of her last four games.
After a slow scoring start in the beginning of the first quarter, the Owls found their rhythm in the final four minutes, scoring 15 points which included back-to-back buckets from first-year Kayley Downie (Easthampton, Mass.) who connected on a mid-range jumper before drilling a triple in the closing seconds of the quarter to put the Owls in front 23-17 after one.
The Owls forced 32 turnovers out of the Lancers today with ten alone in the second quarter as the Owls outscored Worcester 20-9 in the second frame. Morgan Berthiaume (Webster, Mass.) led Westfield in steals as she totaled six alone with Pond notching five as well.
Westfield controlled the play in the second half, keeping distance from Worcester while also increasing their lead as the Owls outscored the Lancers five points in the second half to cruise to a conference victory.
Olivia Hadla (Westfield, Mass.) had the second most points for the Owls tonight as she had 14 points while going two-for-five from three-point land. Five of Hadla's points came in the first quarter to kick start the lead. Jordan Grant (Gray, Maine) was the third Owls player in double figures, adding 11 points.
Hannah Lomanaco (Northbridge, Mass.) was the Lancers leading scorer with 16 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists. Alana Smith (Chicopee, Mass.) tallied 13 points and ten rebounds off the bench with Katie Hurynowicz (Tyngsboro, Mass.) chipping in 11 points.
The Owls are home on Wednesday, Feb. 12 for a 7:30 pm tip-off against Fitchburg before heading to first place Bridgewater the following Wednesday.
Written by Hunter Briggs - WSU Sports Information GA