THE BASICS:
 
- Score: Springfield College 79, MIT 72
 
- Records: MIT (8-5, 0-1 NEWMAC); Springfield (14-3, 1-0 NEWMAC)
 
- Location: Cambridge, Mass. (Rockwell Cage)
 
- The Lead: A layup by Angela Czeremcha with 30 seconds left to play gave Springfield College enough of a cushion as it went on to defeat MIT, 79-72, in the NEWMAC women's basketball opener for both teams. Graduate student Christina Antonakakis (Holmdel, N.J.) powered the Engineers with a game-high 26 points while Rachel Vinton paced the Pride with 19 points.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
 
- Springfield gradually built a 16-9 lead after a layup by Vinton at the 3:34 mark of the opening frame. A pair of Antonakakis three-pointers sandwiched a free throw by Czeremcha, bringing MIT within 17-15 with 1:38 left. The Pride responded with a 17-4 run that spanned the first and second quarters and was capped by Vinton's fastbreak layup at the 6:26 mark. Sparked by Antonakakis's trey during the Engineers' ensuing possession, MIT generated a 19-4 run which resulted in a 38-38 halftime score.
 
- Most of the third quarter was closely played as there were seven lead changes and two ties. Back-to-back three-pointers from junior Angie Choi (Cypress, Calif.) gave the Engineers a 50-47 edge with 6:57 on the clock. However, Springfield put together another quarter-spanning run as 20-6 burst created a 67-56 advantage with 6:40 left to play.
 
- MIT chipped away at the deficit as it came within one point on two occasions, the last at 73-72 following two free throws by Antonakakis with 1:42 remaining in regulation. After an exchange of possessions, Czeremcha drained the pivotal layup with 30 seconds to go. The Pride secured the win courtesy of two free throws by Lindsey Laughlan and a fastbreak layup by Vinton during the final 14 seconds.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
 
- Choi finished with 18 points, three steals, and two assists while junior Kamsi Nwogu (Algonquin, Ill.) produced 12 points and 11 rebounds for her seventh double-double of the year and the 19^th of her career. Senior Grace Harrington (Seattle, Wash.) chipped in seven points, including five during the Engineers' fourth-quarter rally.
 
- Czeremcha tallied 17 points, a game-high 13 rebounds, three assists, and three steals while Laughlan posted 14 points and seven rebounds. Amanda Leary rounded out Springfield's double-digit scoring with 12 points as Claire Finney generated two blocks.
 
- MIT had an 8-4 edge in second-chance points but the Pride ended the day with advantages in rebounds (37-26), points off turnovers (26-21), points in the paint (40-26), fastbreak points (15-12), and bench scoring (14-9).
 
UP NEXT:
 
- Both teams continue NEWMAC play on Wednesday, Jan. 17 at 7:00 p.m. MIT will travel to Clark University while Springfield will host the U.S. Coast Guard Academy.
 
STAY CONNECTED:
 
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