Owls' Gray Adds NEWBA Honors to Mantle

WESTFIELD, Mass.  –    Westfield State senior guard Melissa Gray (Peabody, Mass.) was named to the New England Women's Basketball Association's Division III All-New England Team, the organization announced today.

Gray was named to the second team, as voted on by the region's coaches.

Gray was previously recognized this season as the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year and as a first-team all-conference player.

Gray earned the first-ever conference Defensive Player of the Year accolade after leading the conference in points (20.0), steals (3.6), three-pointers made per game (3.5), and three-point percentage (38.3%). She was also top ten in the conference in rebounds per game, securing 7.3 per contest.

Gray completes her four-year Westfield State basketball career by etching herself in multiple career records, most importantly becoming the Owls' all-time leading scorer in a victory over SUNY-Poly early in the season. She finished her career with a total of 1,757 points - 231 points more than previous record holder Amanda (Braden) Theriault (1994-98).

On top of setting the career scoring record, Gray also passed current head coach Andrea Bertini on the all-time made three pointers list, drilling 319 career triples. On the defensive end of the floor, Gray amassed a total of 320 steals, which ranks second in school history.

Gray was named to the NEWBA time for the second time.   She was a third-team all-NEWBA selection when led the nation in steals per game during the 2019-20 season.  Westfield did not have a basketball season in the 2020-21 academic year due to the covid-19 pandemic.

Westfield State finished the season with a 15-12 overall record. The Owls were 8-4 in MASCAC conference play, where they finished third in the regular-season standings before falling in the conference tournament semifinals.

All Region

1st Team:

Christina Antonakakis, MIT

Maggie Russell, Tufts

Flannery O'Connor, Framingham St

Sam Hourihan, Springfield

Anna Barry, Eastern Connecticut

2nd Team:

Katelyn Pikunka, Smith

Jordyn Franzen, UNE

Bailey Donovan, Husson

Melissa Gray, Westfield

Dashelle Gleissner, Smith

3rd Team:

Karli Opalka, Roger Williams

Molly Ryan, Tufts

Megan Bauman, Babson 

Katie Galligan, Roger Williams

Amina Wiley, Mitchell 

4th Team: 

Samantha Gallo, Trinity

Caleigh Ryan, Wesleyan

Lyric Grumblatt, Rivier

Melissa Presseau, WPI

Angelina Nardolillo, RIC

Player of the Year: Christina Antonakakis, MIT

Coach of the Year: Lynn Hersey, Smith 

Newcomer of the Year: Jordyn Franzen, UNE