Hoops Struggles Upon Return

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – Jill Valley (Orange Valley, Mass.) led 11 scorers with 14 points and Rebecca Sapouckey (Chicopee, Mass.) had nine points and 12 rebounds as the Westfield State women's basketball team defeated the University of Saint Joseph 71-50 Friday night in a non-conference game at the O'Connell Center.

Westfield State improved to 7-4 overall; USJ is 5-5. The Blue Jays were playing for the first time since early December. 

Carlee Putnam (Niantic, Conn.) led USJ with 16 points. Heather Framski (Prospect, Conn.) had 15 points and seven rebounds for the Blue Jays and Brianna Ferraro (Waterbury, Conn.) added eight points and five assists. Forbashaw Nkamebo (Amherwst, Mass.) had seven points and 10 rebounds for the Owls and Jen Ashton (Beverly, Mass.) had eight points, eight assists and five steals.

The game was close early and USJ took a 19-18 lead on a free throw from Lindsay Feducia (Beacon Falls, Conn.) with 7:26 remaining in the half. But Valley scored nine points in a decisive run as Westfield closed with a 22-4 spurt over the final 6:39 to take control and a 40-23 halftime lead. Westfield would lead by as many as 27 in the second half.

USJ shot well from long-range making 6 of 9 three-pointers and Putnam went 4-for-4. Westfield outrebounded USJ 49-34 and had more points off turnovers (27-8) and on the fastbreak (20-0).

St. Joseph next plays at Elms, Tuesday Jan. 6 at 7 p.m. The Blue Jays are next home Thursday, Jan. 8 against Eastern Conn. at 6 p.m.