NEW LONDON, Conn. – Trailing by 13 points late in the third quarter the MIT women's basketball team rallied to defeat the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, 70-65, in NEWMAC action on Saturday afternoon.
Mary Lobon grabbed 23 rebounds – two shy of tying the program record that was set by Maureen Fahey '90 during the 1989-90 season – to go along with 14 points and three assists for the Engineers.
THE BASICS:
- Score: MIT 70, Coast Guard 65
- Records: MIT (13-10 Overall, 7-2 NEWMAC); Coast Guard (11-12 Overall, 3-6 NEWMAC)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- MIT opened the game with seven unanswered points, but Coast Guard responded with a 15-4 run that gave it a 15-11 lead at the 3:01 mark. The Engineers countered with a 7-2 burst as a layup by Ruth Lanouette put the visitors ahead (18-17) at the end of the first quarter.
- The second stanza was a back-and-forth affair as there were five lead changes and three ties. A jumper from Lanouette gave MIT a 26-24 edge with 4:22 on the clock, however, the Bears tied the score 1:37 later and then went up, 29-26 courtesy of a three pointer with 1:40 remaining before halftime.
- The Engineers stayed close in the third quarter as two Lanouette free throws brought them within 36-35 midway through the period. Over 30 seconds later, two free throws sparked a 14-2 run by Coast Guard. MIT countered with three pointers from Rachael Zacks and April Chan in addition to a layup by Zacks during the final minute, trimming the deficit to 50-45.
- The Engineers carried the momentum into the fourth quarter as a layup from Lanouette gave it a 53-52 edge at the 7:20 mark while a layup by Lobon increased the visitors' cushion with 5:53 on the clock. However, a six-point burst put Coast Guard ahead, 58-55, but that was followed by two ties and six lead changes until a steal by Brianna Lebrun set up Lanouette's layup that gave the Engineers a 66-65 lead with 1:09 left.
- After an exchange of possessions, Lobon sank a free throw with 22 seconds remaining and Lanouette added a free throw with 12 seconds to go. Lobon stole the ball during the Bears' final possession as Olivia Joseph secured the victory with two free throws with five seconds on the clock.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- Lanouette paced MIT with 19 points and five assists while collecting four rebounds.
- Lebrun finished with 11 points, six rebounds, two blocks, and two assists coming off the bench as Joseph chipped in nine points.
- The victory extended the Engineers' winning streak to seven.
UP NEXT:
- MIT will host NEWMAC rival Springfield College on Wednesday, February 18 at 7:00 PM.
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