Jen Ashton with head coach Andrea Bertini. Ashton passed Bertini to move into fifth on the Owls all time scoring list with 1,326 points. (File photo)
NORTH ADAMS – The Westfield State trio of Jill Valley, Jen Ashton, and Forbashaw Nkamebo combined for 55 points as they led the Owls past the MCLA Trailblazers 63-47 this afternoon in MASCAC women’s basketball action. With the win, the Owls remain unblemished in conference play at 5-0 (13-4 overall), while the Trailblazers drop to 0-5 (6-11 overall) in the conference.
The Owls broke open a tight game in the second half. Leading by five at halftime, the Owls saw their lead trimmed to just three points after MCLA’s Courtney McLaughlin scored with 17:17 left in regulation. From there, the Owls would go on a game changing 17-3 spurt led by the aforementioned trio to seize control. Valley, Nkamebo, and Ashton scored all the points in the run, capped by Valley’s three point play to grab a commanding 49-32 lead with 10:54 left to play.
They would go on to lead by twenty on two occasions and MCLA never got within 15 points. The opening half was a different story.
With 12:35 remaining in the opening half, the Trailblazers held a 13-8 lead over the Owls. From there, MCLA would be held scoreless for nine minutes allowing the Owls to go on a 10-0 run to take an 18-13 lead. Trailblazer Anna Despart snapped the cold spell by drilling her second triple of the half to close within 18-16. She would connect again a possession later giving MCLA the lead at 19-18 with just two minutes til halftime.
Westfield’s Jen Ashton would score three straight points and assisted on Jill Valley’s three point play to put the Owls on top 25-19. When Valley connected with 25 seconds left, they held their largest lead at 27-19 before MCLA scored the final three points to close with five at halftime.
Valley went 9-11 from the floor in collecting a game high 22 points. She chipped in with 5 rebounds and 3 assists. Ashton filled the stat sheet with 18 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, and 5 steals. Nkamebo ended with 15 points and 5 rebounds. She scored 13 points in the second half.
Ashton moves past her coach, Andrea Bertini ’96, and into fifth place on the Owls all-time scoring list. She now has 1,326 in her career.
The Owls shot 44% from the field and handed out 16 assists on 24 made field goals. They caused 21 Trailblazer turnovers.
MCLA was led by Brayleigh Hanlon’s 14 points, including a pair of three pointers. Despart ended with 9 points as she was held scoreless in second half. The Trailblazers shot just 34%.
The Trailblazers will host Salem State on Tuesday night as they resume MASCAC play while Westfield will battle Fitchburg State.
