NEW YORK, N.Y. – Graduate forward Meg Dixon and junior transfer forward Alexah Potter each recorded double-double games against Westfield State University in the opening round of the Hunter College Invitational on Friday night, but UMass Boston Women's Basketball would fall to the Owls, 72-62, for their first loss of the 2022-23 season.

THE BASICS

UMass Boston 62, Westfield State University 72

UMass Boston (2-1)

Westfield State University (3-1)

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Beacons would jump out to a quick 8-1 lead behind seven points from Dixon, helping solidify a six-point advantage through the opening quarter of the game, 15-9. Freshman guard Sibayla Jensen would extend the UMass Boston lead to its largest of the night at nine points, 19-8.

But the Westfield State offense would come alive, gradually trimming the deficit after a three from freshman forward Sierra Brigham gave the Beacons an eight-point lead, 21-13, with 7:06 remaining in the first half. Using a 16-0 run fueled by seven points from freshman guard Octaviana Williams and five points from sophomore guard Maddie Pond, the Owls would take a seven-point advantage and never look back on Friday night. Leading the way down the stretch of the first half for the Beacons was Potter with six points, as UMass Boston trailed 36-32, heading into the break.

With 6:49 left in the third quarter, a layup from Potter would knot the game up at 40 and another basket from the Dean College transfer would pull the Beacons within one, 43-42, before the Owls would go on a 6-0 run to regain control of the game.
Westfield State would lead by as many as 17 points with 2:13 remaining in the game, 72-55, before UMass Boston closed out the game on a 7-0 run to bring their deficit down to 10 points and the final score of 72-62.

BY THE NUMBERS

• Meg Dixon finished the game with 17 points and 17 rebounds on 6-of-11 shooting, Dixon's 17 rebounds fell two shy of her career-high 19 rebounds which was set against Wellesley in 2021
• Alexah Potter continued her dominance off the bench for UMass Boston, scoring 18 points on 6-of-11 shooting and grabbing 10 rebounds for her first double-double of the season in just 20 minutes
• The Beacons turned the ball over 41 times in the game, leading to 38 points for Westfield State while the Owls committed 22 turnovers to the tune of 15 Beacon points
• UMass Boston held the edge in rebounding, grabbing 53 boards compared to just 34 for Westfield State

WHO'S NEXT
UMass Boston closes out the 2022 Hunter College Invitational on Saturday afternoon in the Consolation Game against Lesley University with tip-off scheduled for 1:00 PM. The Beacons are 3-1 all-time against the Lynx with their last matchup coming during the 2010-2011 season in which UMass Boston won 53-44.