Hadla Pours in 25 to Power Owls Past Rams, 82-79

WESTFIELD, Mass. – Westfield State junior guard Olivia Hadla (Westfield, Mass.) racked up a game-high 25 points to help power the Owls past Framingham State 82-79 in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference game on Wednesday night from Logan Gymnasium in Framingham, Mass.  

The Owls pick up their third straight victory on the season, improving to 12-9 overall and 5-3 in the MASCAC. Framingham drops to 13-5 on the year and 5-3 in the conference as the two teams are now tied for second place in the league standings.

Westfield got off to a blistering-hot start in the first quarter, fueled by Hadla as she piled up 14 points in the period while connecting on all four of her three-point attempts. The Owls totaled 30 first-quarter points, which included six made triples in 12 attempts to give Westfield an early ten-point advantage.

The Owls would eventually drive the lead up to as many as 19 points in the second quarter after a pair of triples by Jenn Rennich (Bedford, Mass.) and Maddie Pond (Holyoke, Mass.), then two made free throws by Hannah Sheldon (Taunton, Mass.) put Westfield up 50-31.

Framingham would cut into the Owls lead to close out the half, scoring the final 11 points of the half to draw within eight points heading into the break. The Rams opened the second half by scoring the first six points of the frame, with Pond connecting on a jumper to snap a 17-0 scoring run for the Rams that spanned between the second and third quarters.

Westfield struggled to find their shooting stroke in the third quarter, allowing the Rams to eventually hold their first lead of the game after a pair of free throws from Katty Haidul (Gilford, N.H.) gave Framingham a 60-59 lead with 1:23 remaining in the third.

After missing their first nine three point attempts in the period, Hadla broke the scoring drought by nailing back-to-back triples inside 30 seconds left in the quarter to provide the Owls with a 65-60 advantage after three quarters.

Jess Gardner (Webster, Mass.) opened the fourth with a jumper, then a Rennich three and another Gardner bucket pushed the Owls lead up to eight points with 6:51 left in the game.

Haidul answered with a jumper of her own, then Hadla knocked down her seventh made three of the night to drive the lead back up to nine and forcing the Rams to call timeout.

The Rams continued to fight back with Gwendolyn Carpenter (Ashley Falls, Mass.) and Jenna Tavanese (Wilmington, Mass.) both burying threes to shave the deficit to five points inside of a minute left in regulation. Kelsey Yelle (South Easton, Mass.) converted a layup, making it an 80-77 Owls advantage with eight seconds left.

Jordyn Lummus (Pittsfield, Mass.) iced the contest with a pair of made free throws, sending the Owls home with the victory.

Both teams were playing shorthanded tonight with Rams leading scorer Flannery O'Connor (Amesbury, Mass.) sitting out for the night. The Owls were dealt adversity of their own in the second quarter, losing their second-leading scorer Jordan Grant (Gray, Maine) for the second half due to an apparent injury of her own.

Hadla paved the way for Westfield with 25 points while burying seven of nine triples (9-18 FG overall). Pond scored 13 points with Gardner adding nine points and six rebounds. Sheldon led the Owls in assists (4) and steals (3).

Yelle stepped into O'Connor's usual role and delivered a flawless 23 points on 11-11 shooting to go along with 11 rebounds. Haidul registered a double-double of her own with 19 points and 20 rebounds. Carpenter supplied ten points, eight assists, and seven rebounds.

Westfield shot a season-high 40% (14-35) from three-point land in the contest, shooting 35.2% overall. Framingham shot 46.0% (29-63) but struggled from distance as they connected on 3 of 19 triples (15.8%).

Westfield State remains on the road in their next matchup as the Owls face off against Salem State on Saturday at 2:00 P.M.