Westfield, MA --- Westfield State senior Jen Ashton (Beverly, MA) netted a game-best 17 points with 11 rebounds, four steals and four assists to help pace the Owls to a 57-44 victory over Worcester State in MASCAC women's basketball action this afternoon at the Woodard Center.

With the triumph, Westfield State (19-4, 10-0 MASCAC) runs their streak to a program record 13 games while the Lancers fall to 14-9 on the season and even out to 5-5 in conference action.

Other standouts for the Owls included Forbasaw Nkamebo (Amherst, MA) who also posted a double-double with 10 points and 11 boards while sophomore Jill Valley (Orange, MA) added 12 points, seven caroms and four swipes.  

Leading the way for the Blue and Gold was senior Julie Frankian (Millbury, MA) paced the club with 15 points and five rebounds as classmate Shannen El-Qasem (Rutland, MA) and junior Bianca Langford (Worcester, MA/Holy Name) both chipped in with nine points apiece.

Langford also gobbled up a game-best 15 boards and she added four rejections.

Senior Cheyenne Jennings (Worcester, MA/Wachusett) and freshman Nani Perez (Worcester, MA/Holy Name) combined for nine helpers.

With Westfield State nursing the 12-10 margin near the 10 minute mark, five different scorers helped the Owls take over the momentum with a 13-2 run to open up a 25-12 lead with 3:12 on the clock in the first half.

As things looked bleak for the visitors, Frankian and senior Kiesha Jones (Worcester, MA/Doherty) both hit treys to outscore Westfield State 8-2 and trail at the intermission 27-20.

The Owls, however, seized the reigns back when Ashton put her team back into double-digits with consecutive field goals to start off the second stanza.

Westfield State increased their advantage to 18 points on three separate occasions before the Lancers used one final push starting at the midway point of the final period.

As the hosts held the 46-28 edge with 12:18 on the clock, Frankian and Perez both poured in four points apiece to help Worcester State trail 47-39 just six minutes later.

But Nkamebo collected four straight points with a pair at the free throw line and two more on a lay-up to put her squad up by 12 less at the 5:39 mark as the Lancers never threatened again.

The Owls led in total rebounding (49-33) and dominated the offensive glass (18-5) all the while using 15 team swipes to create 20 miscues. With margins in both areas helped the hosts lead in points off of turnovers (14-7) and second chance baskets (10-0).

Westfield State connected for 35 percent of their bids from the floor overall (23-for-65) and 75 percent at the free throw line in the second stanza (9-for-12).

Worcester State distributed the ball well with 16 attempts for 19 field goals, but were limited to shoot 34 percent overall (19-for-55) and 29 percent from beyond the arc (4-for-14). The Lancers only got to the charity stripe four times, which is 13 attempts fewer than their season average (16.8).

Both squads continue their conference slates on Tuesday in 5:30 PM contests. The Blue and Gold head up to Fitchburg State while the Owls entertain MCLA.

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