WESTFIELD, Mass. – Westfield State used a balanced team effort with four players scoring in double figures to edge Mitchell College, 86-82 in a non-conference game in New London on Tuesday evening.
Olivia Hadla led the way with 24 points for Westfield (6-4), with Jordan Grant adding 20, Maddie Pond 12 and Octaviana Williams 10.
Grant's return from an injury suffered against Mount Holyoke helped end a three-game skid for the Owls.
The Owls' press began to take its toll on the Mariners in the third quarter, as Westfield turned a 39-34 halftime deficit into a 56-49 lead on an Octaviana Williams free throw with 2:11 left in the quarter.
Mitchell got a three-pointer from Sam McKenna at the buzzer to end the third quarter to take a 61-60 lead into the fourth.
McKenna got a steal and a layup to open the fourth quarter in the see-saw affair.
Westfield got the lead for good at 77-75 on Grant putback with 2:51 left.
A left-handed contested layup from Hadla put the Owls up 81-78 just under two minutes left in the game.
Mitchell's Amina Wiley scored an and-one bucket on a 3rd-chance putback but missed the free throw FT with chance to tie the game at 81
Hadla delivered a dagger 3 from top of key to give Westfield an 84-80 lead with 57 seconds left
Yasmine Santos got a bucket in paint off of an inbounds play to cut it to 84-82
Westfield went 2-6 from the foul line in the final 30 seconds, but managed to hang on thanks to a Williams steal and a loose ball offensive rebound that forced additional fouls from the Mariners.
Wiley ended up with 21 points and 22 rebounds. McKenna led Mitchell (3-4) with 23 points, and Santos added 21 points and 11 rebounds.
Westfield forced 48 turnovers from the Mariners as the Owls garnered 20 steals, but Mitchell out-rebounded Westfield 51-24. Westfield took 85 total shots compared to 57 for Mitchell.
Westfield will next play at local rival Western New England on Saturday at noon.