Westfield State Busts Women’s Basketball’s Win Streak; Take Sole Possession of 1st Place
Westfield, Mass.- The Framingham State University women's basketball team fell to host Westfield State, 94-76 on Saturday afternoon at the Woodward Center gymnasium. Prior to the contest the two teams were tied atop the MASCAC standings. With the win the Owls improve to 15-7 (8-1 MASCAC) and take sole possession of first place in the league. With the loss the Rams slip to 15-6 (7-2 MASCAC).
Forbasaw Nkamebo led the Owls with 20 points, and 15 rebounds while Jill Valley followed with 21 points, seven rebounds and seven steals. Ece Eldek came off the bench and added 17 points, three rebounds, five assists and one steal to help clinch the Westfield's victory.
In the opening half, the Owls wasted no time taking control of the game, generating a ten-point lead in the first with 1:19 left on the clock.
As the second quarter came to a start, the two teams battled it out but it just wasn't enough for the Rams to get ahead.
With 1:46 left in the second quarter, Forbasaw Nkamebo scored in the paint, which gave the Owls a 12 point lead, creating their biggest advantage of the first half. Westfield ended the first half with a 47-39 lead.
The Rams came out with a vengeance in the second half, diminishing Westfield's lead all the way down to a two-point game, making it 61-59, after two Monta Connolly (Lynn, Mass.) free throws with 1;50 left in the third quarter, but Westfield's Lucy Barrett answered with a three-pointer just 13 seconds later to spark the Owls to a 7-0 run to close the quarter, 68-59.
Framingham State's, Connolly led the Rams with 20 points and Quinn O'Connell (Sterling, Mass.) added 14 points. Alycia Rackliffe (Feeding Hills, Mass.) registered a double-double with 10 points and a team-high 13 rebounds and four assists.
Westfield turned up the heat and outscored the Rams for the remainder of the game, creating their largest lead of the game at 18 points after a three point shot by Allison Hester with 27 seconds remaining
With a week to prepare, Westfield will play the Salem State Vikings on Saturday, February 13th at 1:00 in the Woodward Center.
The Rams will be heading to MCLA Wednesday, February 10th for a MASCAC game at 5:30.
*Release courtesy of Westfield State sports information