Sophomore center Forbasaw Nkamebo had 15 points and eight rebounds.
NEWTON – Sophomore Forbasaw Nkamebo (Amherst, Mass.) had team highs of 15 points and eight rebounds to help lead Wesfield State University to a 75-52 victory over Mount Ida College in non-conference women’s basketball action Tuesday, Nov. 19.
Mount Ida led early in the game, 13-9, thanks to two quick three-pointers and eight early points from freshman guard Katlyn Jesse (Marshfield, Mass.), who had 12 points in the game for a Mustangs team that shot 30 percent from downtown in the first half.
A 14-2 run by the Owls, including nine points from Nkamebo, gave the visitors an eight-point lead and Westfield State would not trail again in the game. The Owls extended their lead to as many as 12 points before settling into a 36-25 halftime advantage.
After the break, Mount Ida cut the lead to six points with over 13 minutes remaining thanks to seven points from Champoux and a layup from freshman Angelique Martinez (Taunton, Mass.), who had 10 points in the game on 5-for-10 shooting from the field.
However, Westfield junior Jen Ashton (Beverly, Mass.), who had 13 points and a team-high six assists, and sophomore Tayler Travis (Somerset, Mass.), who 11 eleven points, helped to build the lead back to double figures at 53-38.
Westfield held a slim edge in rebounds, 46-43, thanks to the work of Brianna Lowry (Herndon, Va.) and Nkamebo, who each pulled in eight boards. Lowry also had five steals and five assists, while Keri Doldoorian (Whitinsville, Mass.) handed out four helpers and scored five points from a bench that gave the Owls 39 points on the night.
Mount Ida got double-digit scoring from four of its players, including a 15 points from freshman Stephanie Champoux (Tewksbury, Mass.). The Mustangs, who drop to 0-3 on the season, also got 13 points and 12 rebounds from junior Jenn Rafuse (Brockton, Mass.), who collected her second double-double of the season.
Alyssa Darling (Palmer, Mass.) had nine points and seven steals for the Owls, who ended the game with 16 thefts and forced 22 Mustangs turnovers.
Martinez had eight rebounds, while Rafuse and Champoux each had two steals and senior Abbey Fedigan (New Fairfield, Conn.) led the way with four assists to go with her six boards for the Green and White.
Mount Ida will continue a three-game stint at home on Thursday night when they host Daniel Webster at 6:00 pm.
The Owls (2-1) return to action Saturday afternoon when they host Salve Regina at 1:00 pm.
