Springfield, Mass. – December 7, 2010 – The WPI women’s basketball team opened up a 14-point lead in the second half and held on for a 58-51 win over Springfield College on Tuesday evening in New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) action in Blake Arena.
The win boosts WPI’s record to 5-2, 3-0 in league play, while the Pride’s two-game winning streak comes to an end as it drops to 2-5, 2-1. It was WPI’s first victory ever at Springfield College. The Engineers had previously been 0-8 in games played at SC.
Springfield jumped out to an early 14-9 lead at the 14:24 mark after Kelly Slattery converted the conventional three-point play. The Engineers responded with an 8-0 run, capped off by Cindy Chelius’s three-point play, to earn a 17-14 advantage with 10:36 left in the first half. A Rachel Landon lay-up made it a one-point ball game with 9:56 remaining, only to have the Engineers close out the half on a 16-7 run to go into the locker room up 34-24.
WPI’s lead grew to 14 as a pair of buckets inside from Lauren Hannmann and Theresa Logan 1:56 into the second half gave the Engineers a 38-24 cushion. However, Springfield clawed its way back into the game, thanks to a 15-4 run, highlighted by another Slattery three-point play. With the score 42-39 and the momentum shifted towards the hosts, Springfield forced a turnover on WPI’s next possession. On the ensuing trip down the court, Springfield was called for an offensive foul, and the Engineers aptly responded with a 6-0 run to take complete control of the contest.
Elle Fontaine led the Engineers with 13 points, followed by Hannmann with 12, and Logan with 11. For Springfield, there were two double-figure scorers, including guard Kelly Murphy with a game-high 15, and guard Meghan Biondolillo with 10.
WPI made the most out of Springfield’s miscues, turning 23 turnovers into 22 points, including 15 in the first half. WPI outrebounded Springfield, 34-31. SC made eight 3-pointers to keep it in the game.
The Pride continues league play on Friday evening when it travels to take on rival Wheaton College for a 7:00 pm tip.
