CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – MIT trimmed a 24-point deficit down to nine points with 2:32 left to play but it would not get any closer as an 8-for-10 performance at the free throw line helped Emerson College hold on for an 82-72 NEWMAC women's basketball victory on Wednesday night. Senior
Kamsi Nwogu (Algonquin, Ill.) paced the Engineers with 17 points and eight rebounds while junior Bri Frongillo (Hopedale, Mass.) produced a game-high 23 points while dishing out seven assists for the Lions.
THE BASICS:
- Score: Emerson 82, MIT 72
- Records: MIT (9-11 Overall, 5-1 NEWMAC); Emerson (14-6 Overall, 5-1 NEWMAC)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Emerson built a small lead in the opening frame which grew to 20-12 following a Frongillo layup with 1:11 on the clock. MIT quickly cut its deficit in half courtesy of back-to-back layups by junior Kaya Weiser (Villanova, Pa.) and Nwogu.
- The Lions maintained their small cushion during the second stanza as layups by sophomore Taylor Arnold (Los Angeles, Calif.), graduate student Charlotte Levison (Atherton, Calif.), and first-year Jessie Silk (Newton, Mass.) moved the score to 36-26 with 32 seconds remaining. The Engineers ended the scoring burst courtesy of a jumper by Nwogu.
- Levison opened the third quarter with a layup, however, a three-point play by senior Elise Harvey (Wayland, Mass.) narrowed the gap to 38-31 at the 9:02 mark. During Emerson's next trip down the court, Levison buried a three pointer which sparked an 18-2 run that spanned almost six minutes.
- A layup by senior Angie Choi (Cypress, Calif.) ended MIT's scoring drought, but an exchange of baskets followed, making the score 59-38 at the end of the frame.
- The back-and-forth scoring continued in the fourth quarter as a three-point play by Frongillo created a 65-41 advantage with 8:41 on the clock.
- Sparked by two free throws and then a layup by Choi, the Engineers put together a 20-5 run that brought them within nine points with 2:32 left to play.
- A pair of free throws by Silk and Frongillo created some breathing room, however, Nwogu's three-point play trimmed the deficit to 74-64 at the 1:16 mark.
- The Lions then drained six free throw attempts during the next 30 seconds, putting the game out of reach.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- Harvey finished with 13 points and seven rebounds while Weiser generated 12 points and two steals coming off the bench. Choi ended the night with 10 points, four rebounds, two assists, and one steal.
- Levison posted 17 points and nine rebounds as sophomore Claire English (Winchester, Mass.) collected 14 points and a game-high 11 rebounds. Silk rounded out Emerson's double-digit scoring contingent with 13 points.
UP NEXT:
- Both teams continue NEWMAC play on Saturday, February 8. MIT will host the U.S. Coast Guard Academy at 2:00 PM while Emerson will travel to Mount Holyoke College for a 1:00 PM tip off.
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