FITCHBURG – Senior guard Lee Vazquez (Attleboro, Mass.) poured in a season-high 38 points to power Westfield State University to an 82-55 victory over Fitchburg State on Tuesday.
The Owls move to 4-2 in the MASCAC and 14-4 overall heading into their Saturday showdown at home vs. Salem State.
Vazquez’s previous best this season was 30 points vs. Rutgers-Camden. His career high is 41 points vs. Worcester State last season. Vazquez had exactly 1,300 career points entering the game, and after exploding for 38 points vs. the Falcons he moves into eighth place on the Owls’ all-time scoring list.
Vazquez had his shooting eye vs. Fitchburg as he was 13 for 20 from the field, 5 for 10 from 3-point range, and 7 for 8 from the foul line.
Westfield sophomore Grant Cooper (Northampton, Mass.) was also solid with a near triple-double of 11 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists, while senior Matt Devine (Pembroke, Mass.) chipped in with eight points, eght rebounds and two blocked shots.
Senior Zach Valliere (Douglas, Mass) led the Falcons offensively, totaling a team-high 13 points and 10 caroms, while classmate Tom Henneberry (Lexington, Mass.) collected nine points and three boards.
Westfield opened the first with an early advantage, rifling off a 14-0 run behind five points from Vazquez and four points from Devine. Fitchburg State got on the board with points from Valliere and Brandon Selby (Baltimore, Md./Joppatowne), but the Owls maintained their double-digit advantage as Vasquez dropped 17 first half points. The Falcons inched within seven (27-20) following a bucket from Valliere and three from Henneberry, but Westfield State closed the half strong, taking a 15 point margin into the locker-room.
In the second half, it was all Westfield State as the Owls continued their hot shooting, hitting 14-of-28 from the field and 4-of-8 from three point range. Vasquez again paced the Owls 42 point period, connecting on 6-of-10 attempts, including 3-of-5 from beyond the arc for 21 points in the half.
For the game, Westfield State finished with 52.5% shooting from the field (31-of-59) and a 45-30 advantage on the glass. The Owls limited the Falcons to just four baskets from long-range and only nine field goals in the first half, while causing 15 Fitchburg State turnovers and scoring 17 points in transition.
Fitchburg State (8-8, 1-5 MASCAC) will be back in action on Saturday as it visits Bridgewater State 3 p.m. Westfield State (14-4, 4-2 MASCAC) will host Salem State on Saturday at 3 p.m.
WSU WOMEN ROUT FITCHBURG STATE: Freshman guard Keri Doldoorian (Whitinsville, Mass./Sutton) scored a season-high 19 points and sophomore center Gabby Felix (Springfield, Mass./Commerce) added 18 points to lead Westfield State University to an 82-52 victory over Fitchburg State in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference action Tuesday at the Recreation Center.
The Owls outscored the Falcons, 51-25, in the second half in boosting their record to 4-2 in the conference and 12-7 overall.
