Westfield State University Downs Women’s Basketball, 67-33

CHICOPEE, Mass. – Elms College sophomore guard Gianna Youngblood (East Freetown, Mass.) canned three treys and finished with a team-high 11 points, but Westfield State University had three players register double figure point totals and Jen Ashton (Beverly, Mass.) added seven assists and steals to help pace the Owls to a 67-33 victory over the Blazers in Saturday afternoon's non-conference women's basketball game at Picknelly Arena.

With the loss, Elms moves to 2-6 on the season, while Westfield State improves to 6-4 overall.

Westfield State shot 41.7-percent from the field led by Gabby Felix (Springfield, Mass.) who collected a game-high 18 points. Keri Doldoorian (Whitinsville, Mass.) and Briana Kelly (Hampden, Mass.) added 13 and 10 points respectively to round out three Owls starters in double figures.

Felix pulled down a game-best eight rebounds as Westfield held a 47-32 advantage in boards, and the Owls turned 26 Elms turnovers into 21 points including 10 on the fast break.

Youngblood led the Blazers' offensive efforts hitting on 4 of 10 from the floor including a trio of three-pointers, highlighted by back-to-back threes in the second half, while sophomore forward Denisha Parks (Fall River, Mass.) added 10 points and a team-best seven rebounds.

Parks was 4 for 4 from the field in the first half and 5 of 8 for the game and joined sophomore forward JC Pickett (Chicopee, Mass.) and freshman guard Jenna Oyler (Metuchen, N.J.) who each finished with two assists in the losing effort.

The sides played back-and-forth basketball for the first 9:13 of the contest before Westfield State, leading 14-11 with 10:37 to play in the opening period, began to pull away by going on a 15-0 run in a six minute span to post a 29-11 lead with 4:37 on the clock and finished the half with a 35-19 lead.

After a jumper by Blazers' senior guard Jen Normandie (Westford, Mass.) to open the second frame, Westfield State scored 16 of the next 20 points to post a 49-23 advantage and did not look back from there.

Elms resumes non-conference action on Friday, January 4 when it hosts the University of St. Joseph's (Conn.) at 5:00 p.m. at Picknelly Arena.