Bench Lifts WPI to NEWMAC Victory Versus Mount Holyoke

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WORCESTER -- Maura Buckley (Melrose, MA), Brianna Dozier (Dedham, MA) and Spencer Vinson (Los Angeles, CA) combined for 24 of WPI's 34 bench points as the Engineers bested visiting Mount Holyoke 76-25 in a NEWMAC women's basketball contest on Wednesday evening. 

The win is the seventh straight for the Crimson and Gray and pushes the hosts to 18-2 overall and 10-1 in conference action.  Mount Holyoke dips to 2-17 on the season and 0-12 in NEWMAC play. 

The Engineers took charge in the paint outscoring the visitors 10-4 down low in the first period. Leah Hodges (New Haven, CT) scored all of Mount Holyoke's nine points while Sarah Rogers (Colchester, CT) fought for seven points as WPI tallied the final six of the stanza and took a nine point lead (18-9) at the end of the quarter. 

The hosts continued their binge in the second, completing a run of 28 straight points.  During the spurt, WPI took advantage of 13 miscues by the Lyons and out-rebounded the visitors 26-8. WPI's run was finally put to a stop by yet another Hodges' basket.  Madison Beck (Syracuse, NY) helped out the Crimson and Gray with six points and four rebounds in the second quarter and Buckley netted eight points and six rebounds herself along with a pair of steals.  WPI shot 52.4% (11-of-21) in the second period to take a 42-12 lead at the half. 

Priscilla Dunphy (Barrington, RI) began another strong period of play for the Boynton Hillers with a 3-point jumper 16 seconds into the third. Holding a considerable lead, the hosts brought in their reserves, allowing Vinson and Dozier to a reach career highs in scoring with six points each.  Kendra O'Malley (Charlton, MA) cashed in on a three in the fourth quarter as the Engineers shot 50% (30-of-60) from the floor for the game and an impressive 46.2% (6-of-13) from 3-point land. 

Buckley shared game-best scoring honors with Hodges with 12 points and added seven rebounds, a pair of assists and two steals.  Dunphy drained all three of her trifecta attempts on her way to 11 points while Rogers finished with nine points, Beck and Ama Biney (Worcester, MA) totaled eight apiece and Dozier and Vinson amassed six each.  

Beck joined Buckley with seven boards and Stasha Greenalch (Newington, MA) doled five assists without committing a single turnover. 

Hodges ended the night 5-of-10 from the floor, including a perfect 2-for-2 from downtown, hauled in four boards, all on the defensive end and amassed two assists.  Genesis DiCarlo (Sullivan, ME) and Kathyrn Violette (Yokosuka City, Japan) both tossed in four points while Xajaah Williams-Flores (Bronx, NY) paced the Lyons with seven rebounds. 

WPI heads to the road for its next two contests.  The Engineers are at Coast Guard for a 2pm meeting on Saturday before heading to Springfield next Wednesday at 7pm.  Mount Holyoke is back in action Saturday, hosting Emerson at 1pm. 

Majority of recap written by WPI student assistant Ranier Gran '18

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