NEWPORT, R.I. - Seniors Ashley Finnegan (Worcester, Mass.) and Cassy Jouannet (Conway, Mass.) combined for 34 points and 21 rebounds to lead Westfield State College to a 55-45 win over Salve Regina University in non-conference women's basketball action Saturday afternoon at the Rodgers Recreation Center.

Jouannet dropped in a game-high 18 points and snared 10 rebounds while Finnegan added 16 points and a team-high 11 boards for the Owls, who improved to 6-3 on the season and 3-0 all-time against the Seahawks. The loss extends Salve Regina's (5-3) losing streak to three.

The Owls closed the first half on a 22-8 run to turn a 14-8 deficit into a 30-22 halftime lead. Westfield State connected on only four of its first 14 shots from the field (28.6 percent) and shot 38.2 percent in the half (13-of-34), but its defense held the Seahawks to just 10-of-33 (30.3 percent) shooting. Jouannet led the Owls with 12 points while Finnegan added eight and sophomore Angela Paterson (Nantucket, Mass.) had six. For the Seahawks, senior Erin Phillips (Morristown, N.J.) led the way with 10 points while classmate Victoria Audet (Broad Brook, Conn.) notched six and sophomore Kaitlyn Birrell (Hope, R.I.) had five.

Westfield State opened up a 12-points lead (34-22) following a layup by junior Janae Jones (Springfield, Mass.) 2:40 into the second half, but a 9-0 run by the Seahawks brought them to within four at 34-30 with 14:12 to go. Behind six points from Finnegan, the Owls rallied back and built their lead to 14 (47-33) with 8:32 remaining. They never let it dip below eight the rest of the way.

Phillips finished with a team-high 17 points for Salve Regina but shot just 7-of-25 from the field. She also grabbed 10 rebounds while Birrell also recorded a double-double with 10 points and a career-high 14 rebounds. The Seahawks forced 24 turnovers which they converted into 15 points, but the Owls bench outscored the SRU reserves 17-2 and scored 32 of their 55 points in the paint.

For the Owls, Paterson chipped in with nine points while Jones dished out a game-high five assists.

The Seahawks return to action on Monday, Dec. 20 when they play Westminster (Pa.) at 6 p.m. in the Bahamas Sunshine Shootout. The Owls, meanwhile, play Mary Washington in the San Juan, Puerto Rico Classic on Sunday, December 19.