Framingham State Comeback Falls Short Against Westfield State

By Framingham State athletics

***

FRAMINGHAM – The Framingham State University women’s basketball team rallied in the fourth quarter but were defeated 82-79 by Westfield State University Wednesday evening in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) action at Logan Gymnasium.     

Westfield State improves to 12-9 overall and 5-3 in the Conference.

Framingham State falls to 13-5 overall and 5-3 in the MASCAC

HOW IT HAPPENED: 

·         The Owls started the game with an 8-0 run and led 13-3 with 7:30 remaining. The Rams answered with an 8-0 run of their own fueled by six points from Kelsey Yelle to cut the deficit to 13-11 with just over six on the clock. 

·         The Owls answered with another spurt of their own pushing the lead to 21-11 with four to go. Olivia Hadla fueled the spurt with a pair of threes for the Owls who shot 50% (6-12) from behind the arc in the opening quarter and led 30-20 after one. 

·         In the second quarter, the Owls maintained the lead and led by as many as 19 (50-31) with just over two minutes to go in the quarter. The Rams closed the frame with an 11-0 run capped by a Gabriella Redford floated to head to the locker room training 50-42. 

·         The Rams opened the third quarter with six straight points pulling within two – 50-48, but the Owls pushed the lead back seven (59-52) with just under five to go. 

·         The Rams countered with another 8-0 run capped by a pair of Katty Haidul free throws to take their first lead of the game, 60-59. Hadla nailed a pair of threes in the closing minute giving the Owls a 65-60 lead after three. 

·         The Rams pulled within three (68-65), but the Owls rattled off a 10-2 run retaking a double digit lead, 78-67, with five to play. 

·         The Rams closed the gap to 78-72 on a Gwendolyn Carpenter three with 2:40 and cut the deficit to three on a pair of occasions in the final minute, but the Owls were able to hold on for the victory. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS: 

·         The Rams were led by a team-high 23 points from Yelle who connected on 11-of-11 from the field. Yelle picked up a double double in the game as she also grabbed 11 boards. 

·         Haidul finished the game with a double double of 19 points and a game-best 20 rebounds for the Rams, while Carpenter finished the game with 10 points, seven rebounds and eight assists. 

·         The Owls received a game-best 25 points from Hadla. Hadla connected on 9-of-18 from the floor including 7-of-9 from behind the arc. 

·         Maddie Pond chipped in with 13 points off the bench, while Jess Gardner added nine and six boards. 

·         The Owls shot 35% from the floor in the game and 40% from behind the arc. In the opening half, the Owls shot 56% from three point range (10-of-18), while the Rams, who shot 46% from the floor in the game, hit just 1-of-7 from long range in the first half and finished the game just 3-of-19 from behind the arc. 

UP NEXT:  The Rams are back in action next Saturday when they travel to Fitchburg State at 2 p.m., while the Owls travel to Salem State Saturday at 2 p.m.