NEWTON, Mass. – Mount Ida got double-digit scoring from four of their players, including a game-high 15 points from freshman Stephanie Champoux (Tewksbury, Mass.), but fell to the visiting Owls of Westfield State 75-52 in their women's basketball home opener at Mount Ida Athletic Center on Tuesday night.

The Mustangs, who drop to 0-3 on the season, also got thirteen points and twelve rebounds from junior Jenn Rafuse (Brockton, Mass.), who collected her second double-double of the season.

Sophomore Forbasaw Nkamedo ( Amherst, Mass.) led the Owls with fifteen points of her own, shooting 7-for-12 from the field. Alyssa Darling (Palmer, Mass.) had nine points and seven steals for the Owls, who ended the game with 16 thefts and forced 22 Mustangs turnovers.

Mount Ida led early in the game, 13-9, thanks to two quick three-pointers and eight early points from freshman guard Katlyn Jesse (Marshfield, Mass.), who had twelve points in the game for a Mustangs team that shot 30% from downtown in the first half.

A 14-2 run by the Owls, including nine points from Nkamebo, gave the visitors an eight point lead and Westfield State would not trail again in the game. They extended their lead to as much as twelve points before settling into a 36-25 halftime advantage.

After the break, Mount Ida cut the lead to six points with over thirteen minutes thanks to seven points from Champoux and a layup from freshman Angelique Martinez (Taunton, Mass.), who had ten points in the game on 5-for-10 shooting from the field.

However, Westfield junior Jen Ashton (Beverly, Mass.), who had thirteen points and a team-high six assists, and sophomore Tayler Travis (Somerset, Mass.), who added eleven points, helped to build the lead back to double figures at 53-38.

Westfield held a slim edge in rebounds, 46-43, thanks to the work of Brianna Lowry (Herndon, Va.) and Nkamebo, who each pulled in eight boards.  Lowry also had five steals and five assists, while Keri Doldoorian (Whitinsville, Mass.) handed out four helpers and scored five points from a bench that gave the Owls 39 points on the night.

Martinez had eight rebounds, while Rafuse and Champoux each had two steals and senior Abbey Fedigan (New Fairfield, Conn.) led the way with four assists to go with her six boards for the Green and White.

Mount Ida will continue a three-game stint at home on Thursday night when they host Daniel Webster at 6:00 pm.

The Owls (2-1) return to Westfield for their home opener on Saturday afternoon when they welcome in Salve Regina at 1:00 pm.