Westfield, MA --- Sophomore Julie Frankian (Millbury, MA) made a free throw with 0.3 seconds remaining and senior Meaghan O'Keefe (Warren, MA) had game highs of 21 points and 19 rebounds to lead Worcester State to a 49-48 victory over Westfield State in MASCAC women's basketball action this evening at The Woodard Center.
Frankian was the hero for the Lancers (6-8, 2-0 MASCAC) despite finishing with only five points as she came up with a big steal in the closing seconds prior to her game-winning free throw.
Setting up the frantic final seconds, Westfield State (9-6, 1-1 MASCAC) sophomore Jen Ashton (Beverly, MA) recorded her ninth steal of the game underneath the Worcester State bucket and the Owls called a time out with 10 ticks remaining to set up a final shot.
Ashton brought the ball up the court and tried to drive between two defenders at the top of the key, but she had the ball stripped by Frankian with approximately four ticks remaining.
Frankian dribbled nearly the length of the court uncontested and missed a layup at the buzzer, but a fouled was called on Ashton and 0.3 seconds was added to the clock. Frankian calmly made the first free throw, missed the second free throw and time expired.
The Lancers scored the game's final five points to pull out the big road victory.
In a game that saw eight lead changes and four ties, Westfield State snapped a 44-44 deadlock on a fresman Keri Doldoorian (Whitinsville, MA) layup with 3:46 remaining and an Ashton layup for a 48-44 lead with 2:07 remaining. Westfield scored these two field goals after consecutive Lancer shot clock violations.
Junior Meaghan Burns (N. Brookfield, MA) made a key jumper at the top of the key for a 48-46 score at the 1:52 mark, then sophomore Shannen El-Qasem (Rutland, MA) hit a baseline jumper with 1:02 remaining to tie the score.
In the first half, both teams struggled offensively as the Lancers led at intermission, 24-19.
Forward Tania Ortiz (Holyoke, MA) scored all 10 of her points in the first half to spark the Owls. O'Keefe registered 11 of her game-high 21 points in the first stanza, including two buckets from beyond the arc.
Westfield State appeared to be taking control when it scored the first eight points of the second half for a 27-24 lead. But the biggest lead for either team in the second half was three points until the Owls took their four-point lead with 2:07 remaining.
O'Keefe's monster game of 21 points and 19 boards included an 8-for-11 effort form the field (3 for 5 from beyond the arc) and 14 defensive rebounds.
Burns was Worcester's second-leading rebounder and scorer with seven boards and seven points. The Lancers also held the 47-36 edge on the backboards including a 15-9 edge on the offensive glass.
Ashton led Westfield with 13 points and nine steals. Second-year Gabby Felix (Springfield, MA/Commerce) had a team-high nine rebounds and scored eight points.
Worcester State hosts Suffolk on Thursday at 12 PM for "Math Madness" while the Owls will take on Bridgewater State at home on Saturday at 2 o'clock.
Major Portions of Release Courtesy of Westfield State Sports Information