WESTFIELD, Mass. – Westfield State senior guard Jill Valley (Orange, Mass. / Mahar Regional) scored a team-high 18 points, including eight steals and four assists to lead the Owls to a 102-74 victory in their first Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference match over Fitchburg State Wednesday evening at the Woodward Center.
Although Westfield led from start to finish, it wasn't until the third quarter when the Owls pulled away from the Falcons. Up 44-36 at the half, Westfield opened the third quarter with a 22-5 run. Sophomore guard Lucy Barrett (Williamstown, Mass. / Mt. Greylock) sparked the run with the first six points and scored eight of her 17 points in the game in the decisive 3:50 run.
Westfield led by as many as 37 in the quarter, and led 82-48 going into the fourth.
Westfield's junior center Rebecca Sapouckey (Chicopee, Mass. / Granby) finished with 12 points, ten rebounds, three steals and three assists while Barrett chipped in 17 points and two steals.
Freshman forward, Shay Robinson (Springfield, Mass. / Central) added nine rebounds for the Owls, her career high, along with four points and three steals.
Fitchburg State's freshman guard Kyra Rose (Rockland, Mass.) scored a game-high 27 points, and added eight rebounds, five assists and three steals for the Falcons.
Freshman guard Emma Thompson (York, Maine) finished with 18 points, while junior Michaela McTomney (Bellingham, Mass. / Southern New Hampshire) and freshman Catherine Coppinger (Dorchester, Mass. / Boston Latin Academy) both added 11 rebounds for the Falcons.
The Owls registered 32 steals on the game and forced 47 Falcon turnovers. Fourteen different players recorded at least one steal for Westfield.
Westfield state improves to 7-6 on the season and 1-0 in the MASCAC. Fitchburg State drops to 5-4 on the season, and 0-1 in league play.
The Owls will travel to MCLA on January 7th at 3:00 p.m. for their second conference game of the season.
Fitchburg State will host Colby Sawyer College on January 7th at 3:00 p.m.