WESTFIELD, Mass. - Led by two players in double-figures, the Westfield State University basketball team defeated Mount Holyoke College, 87-25 in non-conference action on Tuesday. With the victory, the Owls improve to 2-3, while the Lyons slip to 0-5 on the year.
Pacing the Owls effort was senior center Forbasaw Nkembo, who notched 17 points with three rebounds and five steals. Junior guard Kirsy Segarra added 11 points with two boards, while classmate and fellow guard Jill Valley had nine points.
For the Lyons, junior guard Xajaah Williams-Flores boasted a game-best 16 rebounds, adding nine points and two steals. Senior guard Genelle Green posted five points with five boards, an assist and two steals, while first year guards Zahkeyah Allen and Leah Hodges each notched four points.
Westfield State dominated the opening quarter, jumping out to a 21-0 advantage through the first six minutes of the frame. The Lyons finally broke through as Williams-Flores banked in a jumper, but the Owls continued to hold the momentum, as the home team made it a 25-point lead on a jumper by junior guard Alyssa Darling.
In the second quarter, the Owls surged once again, taking a 47-7 advantage on a bucket by first year guard Ece Eldek. Hodges put down a layup with 1:04 remaining to make it a 51-9 score and Green added a bucket in the final seconds, but Westfield State headed into the locker room with a 53-11 edge.
The third quarter saw Green nail a shot from beyond the arc, followed by a jumper from Williams-Flores to make it 64-16, but a three-pointer from Valley with subsequent buckets by Nkamebo and first year guard Kierra McCarthy sent the Owls into the final quarter with a 77-18 advantage.
In the final frame, the Lyons began to set a rhythm as Williams-Flores hit a shot from the line and nailed a bucket. Hodges followed with a make of her own, to make it 81-23 with 4:57 to play. Westfield State added a pair of buckets down the stretch to end the game.
Westfield State is back on the court on December 3, when it travels to Lasell for a 6pm contest. Mount Holyoke is back in action on Sunday, opening NEWMAC play at home against Babson at 3pm.
