Worcester, MA --- After a 10-day layoff due to the Thanksgiving holiday, WPI women's basketball found itself on the losing end against Springfield Wednesday night at Harrington Auditorium, falling 53-42 at home. 

Sophomore Jessica Larsen (San Diego, CA) tied for the team lead with 10 points off the bench, going 5-for-7 from the field on a tough shooting night for WPI, as the rest of the team shot just 21 percent from the floor. Junior Dani Davis (East Granby, CT) matched Larsen's 10 points, also contributing six rebounds. Davis accounted for three of the Engineers' four 3-point field goals. 

Springfield improved to 3-3 and 2-2 in the NEWMAC, while WPI fell to 2-3 and 1-2 coming off of its first conference victory of the season, in overtime Nov. 23 against Clark. 

The hosts led nearly the entire first half after Siena Mamayek (Melrose, MA) drained a jumper 33 seconds in. Mamayek totaled nine points and six rebounds on the game.

Mamayek kept it a five-point lead, 14-9, with 5:20 left in the opening period. 

Springfield sophomore Heather Lewis (Saratoga Springs, NY) hit consecutive baskets for the Pride to respond, while Jamie Bickelhaupt (Brookfield, CT) drained a deep 3-pointer from the right wing at the halftime buzzer to give Springfield a 21-20 lead, just its second of the night. 

Lewis scored a game-high 14 points to go along with six rebounds and three assists. Bickelhaupt had a double-double with 12 points, 10 rebounds and five assists. 

The visitors then scored the first six points of the second half, giving them a 27-21 advantage. 

Springfield held roughly the same advantage before pulling away in the final five minutes on the heels of another 6-0 spurt, with Tamara Tribble (White Plains, NY) sparking the decisive run. 

The Pride scored seven straight points late as the hosts began to foul, getting two free throws apiece from Lewis, Tribble and freshman Dina Pitsas (Milford, NH). 

Andrea Moschetta (Harrision, NY) stuffed the stat sheets with four assists, seven rebounds and a game-best four steals.  She shared game-high assists honors with WPI's Rachel Pineda(Shrewsbury, MA). 

WPI plays its first game out of the city of Worcester on Saturday, venturing to Babson for a 1pm match-up.  Springfield entertains Emerson at the same time on Saturday.

Release by Carl Setterlund - WPI Athletics Intern - Emerson '14