Owls Basketball Hosts Doubleheader vs. Worcester on Wednesday
The Westfield State men’s and women’s basketball teams are in MASCAC action on Wednesday, January 15, as they both try to defend the Woodward Center from the visiting Lancers of Worcester State for their second conference matchup of the season.
WESTFIELD, Mass. — The Westfield State men's and women's basketball teams are in MASCAC action on Wednesday, January 15, as they both try to defend the Woodward Center from the visiting Lancers of Worcester State for their second conference matchup of the season.
The men's game tips-off first at 5:30 p.m. The Owls come into this one scorching hot with a record of 12-3 with them winning their last nine of ten, including winning the last six games.
Kenneth Rogers, Jr. (Springfield, Mass.) has yet again swept the MASCAC player of the week honors - for the third time this season and rookie of the week for the sixth time. Rogers, Jr. is averaging 18.8 points per game (first in the MASCAC), 8.8 rebounds a game (second in the MASCAC), and 3.0 assists a game (sixth in the MASCAC). Xavier Lewis (Long Island, N.Y.) leads the Owls in assists as he averages 3.8 per game which is fifth in the MASCAC. On the defensive end of the court we see Angel Price-Espada (Cambridge, Mass.) as he averages 2.8 steals a game which is the best in the conference. Eric Johnson (Houston, Tex.) averages 1.3 blocks per game for third in the MASCAC leaderboard.
For the Lancers, Sam Davies (Worcester, Mass.) comes into this one as Worcester's leading scorer with 12 points per game. Camdyn Shoesmith is their leading rebounder with 6.7 per game (sixth in the MASCAC). Another player to watch for, Brandon Goris (Bronx, N.Y) leads the Lancers in assists per game with 5.1 (second in MASCAC) and is the second leading scorer with 11.6 points per game.
Worcester State swept the Owls last year in three meetings, including a MASCAC championship game win. Westfield will look to get back in the win column against the Lancers.
The women's game tips off right after the conclusion of the men's game at 7:30 p.m. as the Owls come into this one with a 8-5 record on the season, including their last win against Framingham State to move them to 1-0 in MASCAC play.
Jordan Grant (Gray, Maine) comes into this one leading the team in scoring as she averages 16.5 points per game, which is good for third in all of the MASCAC. Grant is also second in the conference in field goal percentage at 49.4 percent. Olivia Hadla (Westfield, Mass.) also helps lead this squad in scoring as she averages just shy of 15 points per game (14.9) which makes her sixth in the MASCAC. The Owls have two women that average over five rebounds a game, Grant (6.2) and Tavi Williams (Springfield, Mass.) with 5.3. Morgan Berthiaume (Webster, Mass.) leads Westfield in assists per game with 3.3 per game, which lands her third in the MASCAC.
Katie Hurynowicz (Tyngsboro, Mass.) is the leading scorer for Worcester with 17.1 points per game, which is good for second in the conference. Alana Smith (Chicopee, Mass.) leads the charge in the rebound front averaging 6.1 a game, ninth in the conference behind Grant. Hannah Lomonaco (Northbridge, Mass.) leads the team in assists as she dishes out 3.1 a game, fourth in the conference behind Berthiaume.
Westfield and Worcester split the season series last season at one apiece with both teams winning their respective home games.
UP NEXT: The men's and women's team will hit the road this weekend as they travel to Fitchburg State on Saturday, January 18 as they both take on the Falcons in a conference day. The men tip off first at noon with the women's team to follow at 2:00 p.m. Follow along at WestfieldStateOwls.com for scoring and stats updates.