THE BASICS:
 
- Score: Bentley University 72, MIT 59
 
- Records: MIT (4-6); Bentley (6-3)
 
- Location: Waltham, Mass. (Barbara Stevens Court)
 
- The Lead: Three MIT players reached double digits in scoring but Division II Bentley University recorded a 72-59 victory over the Engineers in a non-conference women's basketball game on Thursday. Senior Christina Antonakakis (Holmdel, N.J.) led all players with 20 points, marking her second 20-point game in a row and fifth this season.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
 
- A 12-3 run gave the Engineers a 12-6 lead midway through the opening quarter. The Falcons responded with a 15-4 run, ending the frame with a 21-16 lead.
 
- MIT stayed close for most of the second stanza as it came within five points on three occasions, the last at 32-27 on a put-back by senior Kylie Gallagher (Upton, Mass.) with 2:44 remaining. Bentley countered with a pair of layups, entering halftime with a 36-27 advantage.
 
- The Falcons carried the momentum into the third quarter as their margin grew to 19 (48-29) at the 6:31 mark. The Engineers outscored Bentley, 14-7, down the stretch as a layup from first-year Kamsi Nwogu (Algonquin, Ill.) made the score 55-43 with 1:01 on the clock.
 
- MIT continued to attack as another Nwogu layup narrowed the gap to 57-48 after 2:30 elapsed in the final frame. This was as close as it would get as the Falcons replied with a layup during the ensuing possession, reestablishing their double-digit cushion which they maintained for the rest of the game.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
 
- Gallagher posted 15 points, eight rebounds, and two steals while Nwogu finished with 11 points, eight rebounds, and three blocks.
 
- Both teams produced 38 points in the paint and MIT had a 15-13 edge in points off turnovers. Bentley ended the night with advantages in rebounds (48-35), second-chance points (21-8), and bench scoring (20-2).
 
- The Engineers shot 39.1 percent (25-of-64) from the floor, 30.0 percent (3-of-10) from three-point range, and 60.0 percent (6-of-10) from the free throw line.
 
- The Falcons shot 40.8 percent (29-of-71) from the floor, 38.9 percent (7-of-18) from behind the arc, and 70.0 percent (7-of-10) at the charity stripe.
 
- This was the third meeting between both programs. MIT outlasted Bentley, 55-50 in overtime, during the 1975-76 season while the Falcons defeated the Engineers, 56-37, the following year.
 
UP NEXT:
 
- MIT returns to action on Monday, Jan. 3 with a trip to Connecticut College for a 7:00 p.m. tip off.
 
STAY CONNECTED:
 
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