Westerly Bulldogs Defeat Moses Brown in Quarterfinal Thriller

WESTERLY, R.I. — The Westerly Bulldogs girls basketball team secured a decisive 52-35 victory against the Moses Brown Quakers in the RIIL Division I quarterfinals on Friday night at Federico Gymnasium, showcasing their depth and skill as they advanced to the semifinals for the first time since 2013.

The Bulldogs (16-6) executed their game plan effectively, particularly in the fourth quarter, where they outscored the defending state champions Moses Brown (18-3) by 21-5. With critical defensive plays and offensive teamwork, the Bulldogs managed to maintain their lead, culminating in a strong finish.

Westerly coach Mike Reyes expressed pride in his team’s performance. “We played against a very good team with probably the best player in the state in Lauren Bousquet,” he said. “We really played hard on defense and made her work for her opportunities.” Bousquet, who scored 14 points in the game, fouled out just 22 seconds into the fourth quarter, significantly impacting Moses Brown’s gameplay.

As Bousquet left the game, Westerly began to widen their lead, with coach Reyes emphasizing the importance of defensive execution for his team’s success. “Once we were able to get the lead out to double digits, it was all about execution,” Reyes noted. “It was just an amazing job.”

Freshman Ella Reyes led the Bulldogs offensively, scoring 25 points while also contributing 11 rebounds, four steals, and two blocks. Her critical three-point shot and offensive putback helped propel Westerly to a 41-30 lead in the final minutes.

Danica Jarrett contributed eight points while Madison Pellegrino added seven points and ten rebounds. Reinforcing the Bulldogs’ strong rebounding game, Kate Rafferty and Juliana Voisinet also stepped up, contributing significant numbers to the total. “Overall we had four players with seven or more rebounds,” Reyes said, highlighting the team’s collective effort on the boards.

Westerly advances to meet the top-seeded North Kingstown in the semifinals, set for Friday at 6 p.m. at Rhode Island College. North Kingstown (19-1) advanced by defeating St. Mary Academy-Bay View 66-40. Meanwhile, No. 2 Barrington and No. 3 Ponaganset are set to face off in the other semifinal, with the winners vying for the Division I title on March 4 at the Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence.