SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. -- Westfield State University outscored the Mount Holyoke College basketball team 32-2 in the first quarter and cruised from there to take a 79-46 non-conference victory Tuesday night in Mildred S. Howard Gymnasium.
The Owls (3-1) moved to 14-0 all-time against Mount Holyoke (0-4), as they put up 102 field-goal attempts in the game, making 31, and shooting 11-46 from three as they took advantage of 57 Lyons turnovers in the game, including 37 in the first half.
Jordan Grant and Olivia Hadla scored 13 points apiece for Westfield. Caroline Galvani scored 12 points and Hannah Sheldon added 10 points. Morgan Berthiaume had seven assists.
First-year Helena Robinson (Gales Ferry, Conn.) had a terrific effort in the loss for Mount Holyoke, posting season-highs of 16 points and 18 rebounds. Sophomore Sofia Francisco (Boston, Mass.) had 10 points and a career-high 14 rebounds as the Lyons outrebounded the Owls 69-46.
Substituting in five-player waves every minute, Westfield State full-court pressed Mount Holyoke throughout the first quarter, forcing 24 turnovers by the Lyons while nine different Owls scored, including six bench players.
Nine Owls scored in the second quarter as well, as Westfield expanded its lead to 58-14 at the half. Robinson had six points and five rebounds in the quarter for Mount Holyoke as the Lyons began to settle offensively.
Mount Holyoke outscored Westfield in both the third and fourth quarters as the Owls slowed their pace. Robinson poured in 10 points with seven rebounds in the third quarter as the Lyons chopped five points off the Owls lead. In the fourth quarter, Mount Holyoke had 3-pointers from first-year Melina Pena (Miami, Fla.) and sophomore Emma Zoubok (Somers, N.Y.), a long jumper by senior Katie Rha (Douglaston, N.Y.), and a putback by sophomore Jane Wu (Ellsworth, Maine), as the Lyons outscored the Owls 15-9 in the quarter to cut the final deficit to 34 points.
Mount Holyoke will host Mitchell Saturday at 2pm.