Women's Basketball drops MASCAC opener to Westfield State

North Adams, MA- Chelsea Moussette scored a career high 20 points on a perfect 7-7 day shooting to lead the visiting Westfield State women's basketball team to a convincing 101-62 win over the MCLA Trailblazers this afternoon in the Amsler Campus Center Gym.  The Owls improve to 7-6 overall and are now 1-0 in the MASCAC.  MCLA drops their fourth straight in falling to 4-8 overall and are 0-1 in the conference.

Moussette was 5-5 from three point land and collected 14 of her 20 points in the opening half of play. 

In total, the Owls placed four players in double figures.  Kierra McCarthy added 18 points and 6 rebounds, while Melissa Gray (13), and Lucy Barrett (11) rounded out the leading scorers for the Owls.

In the opening half, Westfield asserted their pressure early.  They jumped out to a 7-0 lead and never trailed.  They would open up a 14-2 lead after the first 6:26 of game action.  MCLA would close the margin to 20-12 with time ticking down in the first quarter, but an Allison Hester triple made it 23-12 after one.

MCLA's Sam Gawron connected on a jumper with 7:46 left til halftime to pull within ten again at 28-18, but the Owls responded with a 13-2 spurt to seize a 41-20 lead, their largest of the half.  Westfield would eventually take a 49-32 halftime lead after forcing 19 Trailblazer turnovers.  Kierra McCarthy and Moussette combined for 30 of Westfield's 49 first half points.  The duo were a combined 7-7 from three point range.

Westfield was never threatened in the closing half of play.

The Owls shot 44% from the floor and were the beneficiary of 41 MCLA turnovers.  They collected 29 steals in the game.

MCLA was paced by the trio of Emily Moulton, Erika Ryan, and Kylah Langston.  They all ended with 14 points.  The points were career best efforts from Ryan and Langston.  Both players completed the double double as Langston grabbed 11 boards while Ryan added 10. 

MCLA is back in action Monday night hosting Becker in non-league play at 6pm.