WORCESTER, Mass. – MIT trailed by 18 points in the first quarter but took the lead with 53 seconds remaining in regulation, however a free throw with two seconds left helped Clark University secure a 62-61 win in the NEWMAC women's basketball opener for both teams on Saturday.
Riley O'Sullivan led all players with a career-high 23 points and a game-high nine rebounds.
THE BASICS:
- Score: Clark 62, MIT 61
- Records: MIT (5-9 Overall, 0-1 NEWMAC); Clark (10-5 Overall, 1-0 NEWMAC)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- MIT used a 10-6 run, capped by a layup from O'Sullivan, to cut Clark's lead to 24-10 at the end of the first quarter.
- The Engineers continued to chip away at the deficit as a jumper from O'Sullivan made the score 29-21 with 2:08 left in the second quarter. The Cougars responded with a three pointer, but Rachael Zacks drained a pair of free throws. After a Clark layup with 37 seconds to go, Deana Prasad replied with one of her own at the buzzer to make the score 34-25 at halftime.
- Following a layup by the Cougars almost two minutes into the third quarter, MIT rattled off five straight points to come within 36-30 at the 6:20 mark. The score remained unchanged until a free throw with 4:01 on the clock kicked off a 10-0 run for the hosts. The Engineers countered with seven points during the last 52 seconds as a buzzer-beating layup from Mariam Abdelbarr narrowed the gap to 46-37.
- MIT opened the fourth quarter with two Abdelbarr free throws and a jumper from Prasad. However, a 6-2 burst created some breathing room as Clark's lead grew to 52-43 with 6:35 on the clock. Sparked by a trey from Ruth Lanouette during the Engineers' next trip down the court, the visitors mounted a 16-5 run as a three pointer from Abdelbarr just before the shot clock expired put MIT in front, 59-57, with 53 seconds remaining.
- The Cougars evened the score with a layup 10 seconds later, but Mary Lobon responded with a bucket with 22 seconds to go. A quick foul put Clark at the charity stripe where it hit both attempts, tying the score at 61. A shot by Prasad with five seconds left was off the mark and during the pursuit for the rebound, a foul was called on the Engineers with two seconds remaining. The Cougars then reclaimed the lead by draining the second of two free throws. After timeouts by both teams, a jumper in the paint by O'Sullivan hit the front of the rim as the final buzzer sounded.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- Abdelbarr tallied 10 points, five rebounds, and two steals while Lanouette generated six assists, five points, and four steals.
- Prasad posted eight points as Zacks finished with seven points, five rebounds, and three steals.
UP NEXT:
- MIT returns to Worcester on Wednesday, January 21 when it visits WPI for 7:00 PM NEWMAC tilt.
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