Trailblazer women drop sixth straight, fall to rival Westfield 79-64

Westfield, MA- The Westfield State Owls women's basketball team placed four players in double figures as they defeated the MCLA Trailblazers 79-64 this afternoon at the Woodward Center.  The Owls improve to 11-7 overall and 4-1 in MASCAC play.  The Trailblazers drop their sixth straight game in falling to 4-13 on the season and are still in search of their first MASCAC win as they are at 0-5.

Jen Ashton led the Owls with a tremendous stat line.  The junior recorded 15 points, 7 assists, 5 steals, and 5 rebounds.  Forbashaw Nkamebo finished with a team best 16 points and 11 rebounds.  Keri Doldoorian finished with 13 while Taylor Travis ended with 12.

For MCLA, they were paced by Kaitlyn Chenevert's 16 points.  She would add 8 rebounds.  Mariah Brown added 13 points; however they all came in the opening half.  Kayla Hotaling finished with her second straight double double collecting 12 points and 10 rebounds.  She added 4 blocked shots.

The Owls led most of the way and created some separation in the closing minutes of the first half.  Westfield was holding onto a 35-28 lead in the final 30 seconds and went on to score the final five points off a pair of MCLA turnovers to grab a 40-28 lead at halftime. 

Coming out of the locker room, MCLA would cut the lead to single digits early (43-35) before Westfield responded with an 18-4 run to jump out to their largest lead of the afternoon at 61-39.  MCLA would not go quietly though, eventually cutting the lead to nine points.

With the score at 64-43 in favor of Westfield, MCLA would rattle off a 12-0 spurt to pull within nine at 64-55.  After trading scores, the Owls eventually stemmed the tide as Nkamebo scored a pair of buckets around an Alyssa Darling basket to put Westfield in control again at 72-57 with just 2:39 remaining.  MCLA never threatened again.

MCLA was held to just 34% shooting, including a 28% effort in the opening half.  The Owls ended the game at 42%.  MCLA committed 18 turnovers compared to just 10 for the Owls. 

The Trailblazers will travel to Salem State on Tuesday evening for a 5:30pm tilt with the Vikings.