Women's Basketball Rolls Past MCLA, 74-41

WESTFIELD, Mass. – Junior forward Jess Gardner (Webster, Mass./Holy Name HS) led Westfield State with 15 points and 12 rebounds as the Owls rolled to a 74-41 win over MCLA in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference women's basketball game at the Woodward Center on Saturday afternoon.

Westfield State improved to 11-9 overall and 4-3 in the MASCAC.   MCLA dips to 3-16 overall and 0-7 in conference play.

The Owls led 17-3 after one period.  Westfield was up as many as 25 points, at 32-7 after back-to-back three pointers by Jordyn Lummus (Pittsfield, Mass.) early in the second quarter, and the Owls led 39-19 at the half as Westfield forced MCLA into 30 turnovers.

Olivia Hadla's (Westfield, Mass.) nine led Westfield in the first half, while Kristie Zator (Windham, Conn./Parish) paced the Trailblazers with six points.

The second half was more of the same.  Gardner buried a three pointer as the buzzer sounded for the end of the third quarter to boost Westfield's advantage to 58-27 at the break, and the Owls' lead grew to as many as 39 points in the fourth quarter.

Hadla added 12 points for Westfield, Jordan Grant (Gray , Maine/Gray-New Gloucester) posted 11 and seven rebounds, and Octaviana Williams (Springfield, Mass./Minnechaug) grabbed 12 rebounds to share team-high honors for the Owls.

Westfield forced 50 total turnovers from MCLA and grabbed 31 steals.

The Trailblazers were led by 12 points and 12 rebounds from Hailey Peabody (West Springfield, Mass.), and Zator added 11 points and 16 rebounds. Maddie Teta (Troy, NY/Lansingburg) added seven points.

Westfield will be back in action on Wednesday at Framingham State.

MCLA will host Fitchburg State on Wednesday.