Grant Posts Double-Double, Owls Pull Away in Victory Over Bears 67-56

WESTFIELD, Mass. – Westfield State junior forward Jordan Grant (Gray, Maine) logged an 18-point, 11-rebound double-double as the Owls used a strong second half to pull away from Bridgewater State 67-56 in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference game from the Woodward Center in Westfield, Mass. on Saturday afternoon.

Westfield has now won six straight games, with all of their victories in this win streak coming in conference play as the Owls improve to 15-9 on the season and 8-3 in the MASCAC. The Owls currently sit alone in second place in the conference standings, leading Framingham State (7-3 in MASCAC) by a half a game. Bridgewater State, who currently owns the top spot in the conference standings, fall to 17-6 overall and 8-2 in league play.

Prior to tipoff, the Owls honored their one senior Jenn Rennich (Bedford, Mass.) after playing four seasons with the team, which included a 2018-19 MASCAC Championship title.

Bridgewater pulled out to an early three-point lead after one quarter, riding the hot shooting hand of senior Sophia Gaucher (Lakeville, Mass.) who totaled seven of the Bears 15 first-period points.

In the second quarter, the Owls evened up the game after a three pointer from Mia-Angelina Leslie (Lewiston, Maine), then Grant collected a pair of made free throws and converted a layup to put the Owls ahead 28-26 with 4:39 left in the half.

The Bears retook the lead with just under a minute left in the quarter on a Kayla Thomas (North Falmouth, Mass.) triple, but Grant made a layup on the ensuing possession to knot the game at 33 apiece heading into the break. Grant piled up 12 points (4-5 FG) in the quarter.

Westfield State rallied off eight straight points in the second half beginning with Jordyn Lummus (Pittsfield, Mass.) who nailed a three to put the Owls ahead. Grant and Olivia Hadla (Westfield, Mass.) each knocked down shots, then a free throw from Maddie Pond (Holyoke, Mass.) gave the Owls a 43-35 lead with 4:27 left in the third.

The Bears would eventually trim the lead back down to three on a Thomas three pointer, but the Owls once again went on a scoring spurt of seven-straight points to close out the quarter capped off by a Pond triple to give Westfield a double-digit lead, 53-43, after three periods. Overall, the Owls doubled up the Bears in the frame, outscoring them 20-10.

Gaucher opened the scoring in the final period with a layup, then Lummus quickly answered with a three to drive the lead back into double digits. Bridgewater cut the Owls lead back to nine again after a Kylee Piche (Bridgewater, Mass.) lay-in, but the Owls continued to answer each make with points of their own, this time it was Hadla who made consecutive free throws, then Octaviana Williams (Springfield, Mass.) slashed to the basket for a layup to drive the Owls lead to 13 with 5:28 remaining in the game.

Rennich buried a corner three and Jess Gardner (Webster, Mass.) finished a pair of layups on two straight possessions to give the Owls their largest lead of the contest at 17 points (67-50) with 2:55 left in the game, ultimately sealing the win for Westfield.

The Owls had a balanced scoring attack throughout the game as Grant and Hadla (11 points) were the only two players in double figures. Lummus and Gardner each scored eight points and chipped in five rebounds. Rennich fronted an Owls defense that forced 28 Bridgewater turnovers by providing a team-high six swipes.

Thomas led all Bears scorers with 12 points off the bench. Arielle Cleveland (Groveland, Mass.) recorded a double-double with ten points and 11 boards. Gaucher stuffed the stat sheet with nine points, six rebounds, and five assists.

The Owls played tough defense on the MASCAC's second leading scorer Kylie Grassi (Plymouth, Mass.) throughout the contest, holding her to just nine points and six turnovers.

Both teams had similar shooting stats in the game, with the Owls shooting a slightly higher field goal percentage (37.9% to 35.4%) and three-point percentage (29.6% to 28.0%).

Westfield State has one game remaining in the regular season as the Owls travel to Fitchburg State in the MASCAC finale on Saturday, February 18 at 2:00 P.M. Bridgewater State's remaining schedule consists of a home game against Fitchburg and a road matchup against MCLA this upcoming week.