Westfield won its fifth straight and climbed into a second-place tie in the MASCAC with Worcester State.
The Westfield State University women’s basketball team won its fifth straight game and climbed into a second-place tie in the Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference by picking up a 56-41 victory Tuesday night at Worcester State.
Though the Owls (14-7, 6-2) caught Worcester (10-11, 6-2), first-place Bridgewater State (16-3, 7-1) remained on top by coasting past Framingham State 95-63.
That sets up a first-place confrontation between the Owls and visiting Bridgewater Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Woodward Center.
Freshman Keri Doldoorian, the MASCAC Rookie of the Week, led Westfield with 12 points while High School of Commerce graduate Gabby Felix chipped in 10. Freshman Forbasaw Nkamebo of Amherst pulled down a game-high eight rebounds.
The Owls held Worcester senior standout Meaghan O’Keefe of Warren to six points.
In Bridgewater’s win, Jenna Williamson of Ludlow scored 14 points while MASCAC co-Player of the Week Elisha Homich, also from Ludlow, had eight.
Western New England 53, Salve Regina 51: Senior Emily Savino scored 17 points and shared team-high honors with eight rebounds as the Golden Bears upped their record to 11-4, 8-4 in the Commonwealth Coast Conference.
Franklin Pierce 50, AIC 43: At Rindge, N.H., the Yellow Jackets (10-8, 7-7 Northeast-10) went cold in the second half after taking a 34-24 lead shortly after the break.
AIC was held scoreless for a span of 7:59 as Franklin Pierce went on a 12-0 run before Krista Ferrentino of East Longmeadow made a layup to tie it at 36.
Freshman Ebony Easter drove to the basket to pull AIC within 45-43 with 2:13 remaining, but the Yellow Jackets did not score again as the Ravens pulled away from the free-throw line.
AIC returns to host Southern New Hampshire Saturday at 1:30 p.m.
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Franklin Pierce 70, AIC 61: Ricky Hudson scored 20 points for the visiting Jackets (6-12, 3-11).