Women’s Basketball – MASCAC Playoffs

Worcester State Advances Past Westfield, 51-33

Worcester, MA – The fourth seeded Worcester State College Lancer women’s basketball team got 14 second half points from junior Lindsay DelleChiaie (Leominster, MA) as they defeated the visiting fifth seeded Westfield State College Owls, by the final score of, 51-33, Tuesday night in the opening round of the Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference playoffs.  Worcester State advances to the semifinals and they will travel to Fitchburg State to take on the top seeded Falcons on Friday night at 6:00 pm.

The Lancers were able to take advantage of an ice cold Westfield State team in the first half as Worcester State opened a 12 point margin at the break.  Worcester State shot 41.7% from the field with senior Tracey Ducasse (Malden, MA) leading the way with 6 points in the half.  Westfield State managed just 3 field goals in the stanza as they struggled to 12% shooting from the floor.  Worcester State also had a decided advantage on the boards in the half as they out rebounded the visitors, 22-13, and scored 14 of their 23 points in the paint.  Sophomore Andrea Wasuk (Lenox, MA) led the Owls with 5 first half points.

Worcester State opened the second half with an 11-0 run over the first 3:39 to increase their lead to 21 points, 34-13.  The Owls answered back with a 9-0 run of their own to cut the Lancer lead to 12, 34-22, at the 13:02 mark on a three pointer by junior Betty Dely (Waltham, MA) but that would be as close as Westfield State would get.  Worcester State pushed their lead to 17 points with 7:38 to go before finishing with the 18 point win.

DelleChiaie was the only Lancer in double digits as she led all scorers with 16 points.  Ducasse finished with 8 points and 10 rebounds.  Westfield State was led by Wasuk with 13 points and 9 boards, while Dely added 10 points including 3-of-3 shooting from beyond the arc.

Worcester State finished the night shooting 35.8% from the field while Westfield totaled a 21.2% mark.

The Lancers next opponent, Fitchburg State, who won 23 straight games after losing their season opener, swept the Lancers during the regular season.

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