WESTFIELD – The Westfield State University women’s basketball team has received a bid to the 2013 Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) New England Division III Tournament as the No. 4 seed and will play at No. 5 seed Roger Williams University on Wednesday, Feb. 27. Tip-off time is 7:00 p.m. in Bristol, R.I.
Westfield will be making its eighth appearance in the ECAC Tournament and their first in 10 years, while this marks the first time in school history that Roger Williams will be playing in the postseason tourney.
The Owls own an 18-10 record, including a tough 85-72 setback to Bridgewater State in the MASCAC Tournament championship game.
Westfield is led by sophomore all-conference performers Gabby Felix and Jen Ashton. Felix leads the Owls in scoring (13.2 ppg.) and rebounding (8.1). Ashton is averaging 10.8 ppg. and ranks 10th nationally in assists (5.6) and 15th nationally in steals (3.86). Freshman guard Keri Doldoorian, the MASCAC rookie of the year, is averaging 9.1 ppg.
Roger Williams put together arguably the best season in school history, setting a school record with 19 wins and finishing second in The Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) with a 14-4 record. RWU defeated No. 7 seed Curry College, 76-48, in the CCC quarterfinals then fell to No. 3 seed Salve Regina, 69-48, in the semi-finals.
Kaitlyn Bover (16.6 ppg., 7.2 rpg.) and Alexandra Lanieri (12.3 ppg., 7.2 rpg.) lead Roger Williams in scoring and rebounding. Elizabeth Kilzi is averaging 9.9 ppg.
Roger Williams and Westfield State have played each other five times, with the last meeting taking place in 1989 when Westfield State earned a 63-40 victory. The Owls hold a 4-1 advantage in the series.
The Westfield-Roger Williams winner will play either No 8 seed Albertus Magnus or No. 1 seed Castleton State in the semi-finals. In Wednesday’s other quarterfinal games, No. 2 seed Suffolk hosts No. 7 Endicott and No. 3 seed Wellesley hosts No. 6 Salve Regina.
