Women's Basketball Tops MCLA, 101-54

WESTFIELD, Mass. –  Westfield State got career best scoring performances from Paris Wilkey (Lynn, Mass./Classical) and Maddie Pond (Holyoke, Mass./Hampshire Reg.), as the Owls dispatched MCLA 101-54 in a MASCAC women's basketball game at the Amsler Gym in North Adams, Mass. on Sunday afternoon.

The Owls (5-7, 1-0 MASCAC) topped the 100-point mark for the second straight game, and are on a modest 3-game win streak after a slow start to the season.

Wilkey, a transfer from Division II Franklin Pierce University, had her best game as an Owl, netting 18 points on 9-15 shooting and grabbing 10 rebounds.   Pond finished a perfect 6-6 shooting from the floor with a pair of three pointers en route to 14 points, and Alison Giambanco (Norwood, Mass.) added a career best 12 for Westfield as well.

The Owls forced 30 turnovers from the Trailblazers, which Westfield converted into 46 points.

Westfield led 32-16 at the end of the first quarter, then netted the first 10 points of the second quarter to hold a 42-16 lead with 7:09 left in the half after Pond came up with a steal and fed Jordan Grant (Gray, Maine/Gray-New Gloucester) for a layup.

Westfield led 61-28 at the half, matching the third-highest scoring half in school history.   16 players played for Westfield with 13 players scoring.  Adams, Mass. native Alie Mendel scored 15 points for the Owls.

MCLA (0-11, 0-1 MASCAC) entered the game with just six healthy players, but got a strong performance from Brooke DiGennaro, who finished with 26 points, including five three-pointers and five steals. Olivia Pressley added 11 points.

Westfield was originally scheduled to face Smith in a non-conference game on Monday, however that game has been postponed.  The Owls next scheduled game is Wednesday, Jan. 12 at Salem State.   Check WestfieldStateOwls.com for any schedule updates.