WESTFIELD, Mass. – Freshman guard Jen Ashton (Beverly) had a school record 13 steals and team highs of 13 points, nine rebounds and six steals to lead Westfield State University to a 54-47 victory over UMass Boston in a non-conference women's basketball game on Tuesday, Dec. 13.
 
Ashton, who nearly posted her second triple-double this season, shattered the school record for steals. The previous record was 10 steals set by Lekeisha Walker vs. Juniata (Pa.) College in 2004.
 
Ashton's first-half line was 2 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists, 5 steals but the Owls led at the intermission, 33-18, after erasing an early 7-0 deficit.
 
Freshman center Gabby Felix (Springfield/Commerce) scored eight of her 10 points in the opening six minutes to spark Westfield to a 14-8 lead. Junior guard Angela Paterson (Nantucket) scored seven of her 10 points in the first half as the Owls exhibited a balanced attack.
 
Westfield took its first double-digit lead, 21-10, on a 3-point basket by Paterson at the 10:51 mark.  Westfield outscored UMass Boston 8-0 in the final 4:35 of the first half for its 33-18 halftime edge. The Owls led by 24 points, 49-25, with 10:40 remaining but they only scored five points the remainder of the game.
 
Westfield shot 39 percent in the first half and committed only seven turnovers, but both teams struggled in the second half, shooting an identical 22 percent. The Owls only outscored the Beacons, 21-19, in the final 20 minutes, with Ashton leading the way with 11 points, five rebounds and eight steals.
 
Felix finished with seven rebounds and senior point guard Janae Jones (Springfield/Minnechaug) contributed six points and five assists.
 
Freshman center Kirsten Morrison (North Reading) led the Beacons with game-highs of 17 points, 13 rebounds and four blocked shots. Lauren Perra (Taunton) tallied nine points.