Women's Basketball Closes Conference Slate with Loss at Westfield State

Westfield, Mass. – Senior point guard Janae Jones (Springfield, Mass.) scored a career-high 18 points and freshman guard Jen Ashton (Beverly, Mass.) had 19 points, eight assists and four steals to lead Westfield State to a 74-52 victory over Framingham State this evening in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) women's basketball action. 

Westfield is 12-12 overall on the year and 5-6 in the MASCAC with one game remaining in the regular season, this Saturday at Fitchburg State, while Framingham State is 12-12 overall and finish their conference slate at 3-9.  The Rams have one non-conference game remaining this season on Thursday evening at 6 p.m. when they host Rivier College on Senior Night.

The Owls avenged an earlier loss to the Rams but the victory was far from easy in the final regular season home game. Leading 48-45 with 9:08 remaining, Westfield outscored Framingham, 26-7, over the game final nine minutes to pull away.

Jones sparked the surge by scoring 14 of her 18 points in the second half. The speedy 4-11 point guard also had three assists and four steals and only two turnovers. 

Both teams had first-half scoring runs. Paced by the 3-point shooting of junior guard Courtney Kegresse (Adams, Mass.), the Owls jumped out to an early 14-4 lead. But the scrappy Rams moved the ball well offensively and went on a 13-0 run to take a 17-14 lead.

Westfield trailed 25-20 but closed the first half with a 10-2 run for a 30-27 lead at the break. Kegresse canned a trey and freshman center Gabby Felix (Springfield, Mass.) converted an old fashioned 3-point play during the run.

Westfield took an 11-point lead (43-32) on a Jones layup at the 15-minute mark. But the Rams kept battling back, led by a pair of 3-point baskets by junior guard Madeleine Park (Blue Hill, Maine), who scored a game-high 20 points, to pull within three points, 48-45, with 9:08 remaining.

Westfield then closed the game with its 26-7 run sparked by a strong defensive effort and the scoring of Jones, Ashton, and Felix.

Felix had a monster game as the 6-0 center posted a double-double with 14 points and 18 rebounds, while Kegresse had 14 points in the balanced attack. Westfield shot 49 percent for the game, including 57 percent in the second half.

Also scoring in double figures for Framingham were sophomore guard Kristen Hoffman (Foxboro, Mass.) with 12 points and junior forward Kia Minor (Edgartown, Mass.) with 10. Hoffman was held to just two second-half points.

Release courtesy of WSU Sports Information.