WESTFIELD, Mass. - Records fell at a rapid pace as Westfield State scored a school record 126 points as the Owls pillaged Salem State, 126-77, in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference game at the Woodward Center on Wednesday night.
The Owls took a school record 110 shots in the 40 minute game, and Salem State junior Norma Waggett (Saugus, Mass.) scored a Vikings record 44 points.
Westfield State jumped out to a 41-11 first quarter lead, the 41 points setting another Owls record and the lead was never seriously threatened in the game.
Leading 61-25 at the half, the Owls scored a record 65 points in the second half of the game while substituting liberally.
The Owls forced 46 turnovers and came up with 31 steals. Westfield shot 52 for 110 (47.3 percent) from the floor. The owls scored 58 points off of turnovers, scored 31 points in transition and got 63 points off the bench.
The Owls placed six players in double figures, led by senior guard Jill Valley's (Mahar/Orange, Mass.) 21 points, on a ultra-efficient 9-13 shooting night including 2-3 from long range, and came up with five steals and two assists without a turnover.
Graduate student forward Ashley Giampetruzzi (Manchester Central/Manchester, N.H.) added 17 points and five rebounds, Kierra McCarthy (Ludlow, Mass.) scored 14 points and grabbed six steals. Freshman point guard Alyssa Camara (Quincy, Mass.) dished out nine assists for the Owls.
Westfield State improves to 10-6 overall and 4-0 in the MASCAC. The Owls' 126 outburst tops the school record of 119, set in a win over the University of St. Joseph (Conn.) last season.
For Salem, Waggett scored 44 points to break the school mark of 40, set by Terri Niles in the 1997-1998 season, connecting on 16 of 29 field goal attempts and 10 of 12 free throws. She also grabbed eight rebounds. Brianna Rodriguez (Salem, Mass.) added 11 points, grabbed five rebounds and handed out five assists for the Vikings, which drop to 8-10 overall and 0-5 in the MASCAC.
