Women's Basketball Drops 67-56 Decision to Westfield State

WESTFIELD, Mass. – Junior forward Jordan Grant (Gray, Maine) posted a double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Westfield State University women's basketball team to a 67-56 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) victory over visiting Bridgewater State University on Saturday afternoon at the Woodward Center.

The Owls improve to 15-19 on the season and 8-3 in the MASCAC, while the Bears fall to 17-6 overall and 8-2 in conference play. Westfield snapped a four-game losing streak against Bridgewater. The Owls now hold a 50-40 advantage in the all-time series.

Grant connected on 7 of 12 field goal attempts and went 4-for-4 at the free throw line. Seven of her 11 boards came off the offensive glass and she also added two assists, a steal and a pair of blocked shots.

The Owls also received 11 points from junior guard Olivia Hadla (Westfield, Mass.) as well as six points, four rebounds, two assists, a block and a game-high six steals from graduate forward Jenn Rennich (Bedford, Mass.). Rennich and junior guard Jordyn Lummus (Pittsfield, Mass.) each knocked down key three-pointers in the fourth quarter.

Sophomore forward Arielle Cleveland (Groveland, Mass.) posted a double-double with ten points and 11 rebounds (five offensive) to lead the way for Bridgewater State. Cleveland added three assists and three steals. Junior guard Kayla Thomas (North Falmouth, Mass.) checked in with a career-high 12 points, on 4 of 8 three-point shooting, in 19 minutes off the bench for the Bears, while senior forward Sophia Gaucher (Lakeville, Mass.) notched nine points, six rebounds (three offensive), five assists, a steal and a block.

The game was knotted at 33-33 at the break. Grant led all players with 12 first-half points, while Cleveland tallied eight points and Gaucher seven for the Bears.

Bridgewater shot 41.2% (14-34) from the floor and 33% (4-12) from behind the arc over the first 20 minutes. The Bears also made just two trips (1-2) to the free throw line. Westfield connected on 40% (12-30) of its field goals attempts and went 4-for-14 (28.6%) from three-point range and 5-for-6 (83.3%) at the charity stripe in the first half. Each team turned the ball over 12 times.

Bridgewater struggled with the intense Westfield pressure in the second half as the Bears turned the ball over 16 times and converted on just 9 of 31 (29%) field goal attempts. The Owls did not shoot the ball all that well either (13-36, 36.1%) over the final 20 minutes and committed their fair share of turnovers (11), but a 7-0 run to close out the third quarter, capped off by a Maddie Pond (So., Holyoke, Mass.) three-pointer, changed the complexion of the game. Westfield led by ten (53-43) at the end of three and the Bears would get no closer than eight points the rest of the way. The Owls got up by as many as 17 points (67-50) in the fourth quarter, thanks in part to a pair of three-pointers from Rennich and Lummus, and were never threatened.

Both teams are back in action on Wednesday evening. The Bears entertain MASCAC foe Fitchburg State University at 5:30 while the Owls host Mitchell College at seven.