CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – After trailing for most of the game, MIT built an 11-point lead with two minutes remaining and then held off a late rally by Clark University to capture a 70-62 victory in NEWMAC women's basketball action on Wednesday night. Senior
Kamsi Nwogu (Algonquin, Ill.) led all players with a career-high 26 points and 13 rebounds while grabbing six steals for the Engineers. First-year Cyriah Coleman (Los Angeles, Calif.) powered the Cougars with 12 points, nine rebounds, three assists, three steals, and two blocks.
THE BASICS:
- Score: MIT 70, Clark 62
- Records: MIT (6-10 Overall, 2-0 NEWMAC); Clark (8-8 Overall, 0-2 NEWMAC)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Holding a 16-10 lead heading into the second quarter, Clark went on a 10-3 run which featured eight straight points by sophomore Olivia Shipley (Castleton, Vt.). The Cougars maintained their cushion for most of the frame as a jumper by senior Elise Harvey (Wayland, Mass.) trimmed MIT's deficit to 33-27 at halftime.
- The Engineers stayed close in the third quarter before taking a 38-37 lead on a three pointer by junior Kaya Weiser (Villanova, Pa.) with 1:49 on the clock. Several lead changes ensued as a layup by junior Brianna Lebrun (Hartford, Conn.) gave the hosts a 42-41 edge with six seconds left.
- A three pointer by sophomore Catherine Antwi (Lowell, Mass.) put Clark back in front early in the fourth quarter, however, Nwogu responded with back-to-back buckets. The Cougars countered with a layup from graduate student Alaina Schatzabel (Kennebunk, Maine), knotting the score at 46 at the 7:50 mark.
- Lebrun drained a pull-up jumper during MIT's next possession, sparking a 17-6 run that resulted in a 63-52 advantage with 2:05 left to play. However, Coleman followed with back-to-back treys, narrowing the gap to five with 1:33 on the clock.
- Nwogu created some breathing room courtesy of two free throws with just under a minute to go, but a steal and a fastbreak layup by Antwi made the score 65-60 with 42 seconds remaining.
- Weiser drained a free throw 14 seconds later, however, a foul sent Coleman to the charity stripe where she sank both shots with 22 seconds left in regulation.
- MIT secured the victory after seniors Sarah Berman (York, Pa.) and Angie Choi (Cypress, Calif.) went 2-for-2 at the free throw line down the stretch.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- Choi tallied 16 points, four assists, and two steals while Weiser posted 10 points. Lebrun finished with nine points and seven rebounds, including five off the offensive glass.
- Schatzabel generated 13 points, seven rebounds, three assists, and three steals as Antwi produced 13 points off the bench. Shipley ended the night with 10 points and seven rebounds for the Cougars.
UP NEXT:
- Both squads will host NEWMAC games on Saturday, January 25. MIT will play WPI at 3:00 PM while Clark will face Mount Holyoke College at 2:00 PM.
STAY CONNECTED:
