Westfield Owls End Framingham State’s Season in Conference Semifinals

By Framingham State athletics

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FRAMINGHAM – The second seeded Framingham State University women’s basketball saw their season come to a close with a 90-76 loss to third seed Westfield State Friday evening in one semifinal of the 2023 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Women’s Basketball Tournament at Logan Gymnasium in Framingham.

The Owls improve to 18-9.

Framingham State’s season comes to an end at 17-6.

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HOW IT HAPPENED: 

• In a back and forth first quarter that saw multiple lead changes, the Owls closed the quarter with four straight points to lead 12-9 after one.  Kelsey Yelle paced the Rams in the quarter with seven points, while Octaviana Williams led the Owls with six.   
• The second quarter continued to go back and forth with the Owls opening up a six point lead early in the quarter before the Rams used a 12-4 run capped by a Katherine Haselton layup to take a 33-25 lead with just over a minute to play.  The Owls answered with a fast 10-1 spurt in the final minute to take a 35-34 lead into the locker room. 
• The Rams started the third quarter with seven straight points including a three from Haselton to lead 41-35.  The Owls countered with a 15-2 run capped by a Jess Gardner three to take a 50-43 lead with just over 5:30 on the clock. 
• The Rams once again closed the gap to three on a Yelle layup with 2:30 on the clock by a 12-4 run to close the frame gave the Owls a 66-55 lead after three. 
• Rams started the fourth with a 5-0 run to cut the deficit to 66-60, but the Owls used an 11-4 run to open up a 77-64 lead with just under seven on the clock. 
• The Rams chipped away at the lead and pulled back within six (82-76) after a Gwendolyn Carpenter three and a free throw from Katty Haidul with 1:30 to play.  That was as close as the Rams would get as the Owls scored the final eight points of the game.  

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INSIDE THE NUMBERS: 

• The Rams were led by double doubles from Flannery O’Connor and Haidul.  O’Connor finished the game with 18 points and 11 rebounds, while Haidul scored 14 and grabbed 10 boards. 
• Yelle finished the game 8-of-14 from the floor for 17 points and she grabbed eight boards, while Carpenter finished the game with 14 points, six rebounds and seven assists. 
• Williams paced the Owls with 15 points and eight rebounds, while Gardner finished the game with a double double of 11 points and 12 rebounds, Hannah Sheldon scored 11 for the Owls off the bench, while Jordan Grant finished the game with 10 points.  

UP NEXT: With the victory, the Owls advance to the MASCAC Tournament finals on Sunday. 

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