CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – A nine-point burst in a span of 1:42 during the fourth quarter put MIT ahead for good as it went on to capture a 56-50 win over WPI in a NEWMAC women's basketball game on Saturday afternoon. Senior
Kamsi Nwogu (Algonquin, Ill.) tallied 14 points, six rebounds, and two steals for MIT while sophomore Ava Giansiracusa (Wethersfield, Conn.) led all players with 15 points while grabbing six rebounds for WPI.
THE BASICS:
- Score: MIT 56, WPI 50
- Records: MIT (7-10 Overall, 3-0 NEWMAC); WPI (7-10 Overall, 0-3 NEWMAC)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- MIT built a small lead in the first quarter, however, a three pointer by graduate student Shannon Reno (Millbury, Mass.) brought WPI within 12-11 at the end of the frame.
- The visitors carried the momentum into the second stanza as they put together a 13-4 run that was capped by a trey from Giansiracusa with 3:34 on the clock. A 2-of-4 performance by senior Elise Harvey (Wayland, Mass.) at the charity stripe narrowed the gap to 24-18, but a jumper from senior Caitlyn Dasaro (Fairfield, Vt.) increased WPI's cushion heading into halftime.
- Despite the deficit MIT continued to attack and claimed a 37-34 edge on a three pointer by first-year Libi Matityahoo (Yehud Monosson, Israel) at the 1:37 mark of the third quarter. WPI replied with a trey from Reno, creating the third tie of the period.
- Following two ties and two lead changes in the fourth quarter, WPI went up 44-41 courtesy of a three pointer by graduate student Alice Kelly (Wethersfield, Conn.) with 8:12 on the clock. After some back-and-forth play, two free throws from junior Alice Hall (Ambler, Pa.) kicked off MIT's pivotal 9-0 run that made the score 50-44 with five minutes left in regulation.
- Junior Megan Stone (Hanson, Mass.) cut WPI's deficit in half courtesy of a three-point play during its next possession. However, senior Kamsi Nwogu (Algonquin, Ill.) quickly registered one of her own, moving the score to 53-47.
- Giansiracusa recorded a free throw and then jumper, once again bringing WPI within three at the 2:41 mark. Hall replied with a bucket during MIT's next trip down the court to create some breathing room.
- Following a series of possessions, Matityahoo secured the victory with a free throw with nine seconds remaining.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- Harvey totaled 12 points and two steals as senior Angie Choi (Cypress, Calif.) posted 10 points, five assists, and two steals. Senior Sarah Berman (York, Pa.) notched eight points and a team-high seven rebounds.
- Kelly finished with 12 points, followed by 11 from Stone. Reno tallied eight points, five rebounds, and four assists while Dasaro collected a game-high 10 rebounds.
UP NEXT:
- Both squads continue NEWMAC play on Wednesday, January 29. MIT will travel to Wellesley College for a 7:00 PM game while WPI will host Mount Holyoke College at 7:30 PM.
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