WESTFIELD, Mass. – Westfield State took Bridgewater's best shot, overcoming a record performance from the Bears' Sara DaSilva (Chelmsford, Mass.) as Westfield held off the Bears, 77-68 in a MASCAC Women's Basketball game at the Woodward Center on Wednesday night

With the key win, Westfield State is now 16-8 overall and 10-1 and atop the MASCAC standings.

For Bridgewater, DaSilva tied the school record for three-pointers in a game with nine. Brittney Chappron knocked down nine trifectas (9-for-15) against MCLA on Feb. 19, 2011. DaSilva's 34 points is a career-high and is tied for the third highest single-game total in BSU program history.  (Record is 36 by Jenna Williamson against Salem State in 2014).

Tonight, Westfield led 35-27 at the half, using a balances scoring attack and forcing the Bears into 18 turnovers in the opening 20 minutes.

Bridgewater trailed by as many as a 11 points early in the second, half, but chipped away at Westfield's lead, finally grabbing a 60-59 lead on Jennie Lindland's  (Martha's Vineyard HS/Edgartown, Mass.) drive with 7:13 to play in the game.

From that point the Owls pulled away with a 14-0 run capped by Lucy Barrett's (Mt. Greylock/Williamstown, Mass.) layup with 2:56 to play that put the game away.

Westfield was led by 15 points from Barrett, and got a 12-point, 6-rebound, 6-steal effort from senior guard Jill Valley (Mahar/Orange, Mass.).   Rebecca Sapouckey (Granby/Chicopee, Mass.) added 11 points and 13 rebounds, and sophomore Janaiya Sanchez (Sabis/Springfield, Mass.) added an 11-rebound effort for the Owls.  

Westfield grabbed 31 offensive rebounds to overcome a sub-par shooting night.  Westfield got 42 points in the paint and 31 points off of turnovers. The Owls will close out the regular-season slate on Saturday, hosting Worcester State at 3:00 p.m.  

The Bears were led by DaSilva's hot shooting, as she connected on 9 of 16 three-point tries and 12-22 from the floor overall.  She grabbed six rebounds and made five steals in a fine all-around performance.   Lindland was the only other player in double figures for the Bears, with an 11-point, 12-rebound double-double.

Bridgewater is now 10-14, 5-6 in the MASCAC. The Bears will close their regular-season schedule on Saturday as well, hosting Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in a 3:00 tip.