THE BASICS:
- Score: No. 20 Marymount University 58, MIT 54
- Records: MIT (18-10); Marymount (25-3)
- Location: Rochester, N.Y. (Louis Alexander Palestra)
- The Lead: Marymount University outscored MIT, 21-13, in the fourth quarter to come from behind and defeat the Engineers, 58-54, in the first round of the NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Tournament on Friday. Junior Taylor V'Dovec (Blaine, Wash.) hauled in a game-high 13 rebounds while scoring a team-high 14 points in MIT's first NCAA Tournament appearance.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Marymount jumped out to a 7-2 lead which later grew to 12-5 late in the opening quarter. MIT capped the frame on a baseline jumper by freshman Jocelyn Luizzi (Colchester, Conn.) with 22 seconds remaining.
- Junior Kara Holinski (Livonia, Mich.) knocked down a three-pointer after 47 seconds elapsed but the Saints countered with back-to-back jumpers. The Engineers responded with a Holinski jumper and two Luizzi free throws to come within 16-14 at the 6:41 mark. Marymount rattled off seven straight points during the next two minutes, however, a fastbreak layup by Holinski sparked an 11-3 run that was capped by sophomore Cindy Si (San Antonio, Texas) snagging a loose ball and finding Luizzi for a layup at the buzzer, bringing MIT within 26-25.
- The Engineers carried the momentum into third quarter, scoring seven straight points to claim a 32-26 lead after three minutes elapsed. Following their own timeout, the Saints produced a pair of baskets and a free throw to come within one with 5:37 on the clock. MIT used two free throws by freshman Kylie Gallagher (Upton, Mass.), a V'Dovec baseline jumper, and reverse layup by Holinski to create a 38-31 margin with 3:37 remaining. Marymount capitalized on a layup and two free throws to stay within striking distance but Holinski's three-pointer doubled the Engineers' cushion. The Saints countered with a put-back with 18 seconds left, narrowing the gap to 41-37.
- Marymount opened the final frame with a 7-2 spurt but a pair of Luizzi buckets gave MIT a 47-44 edge at the 6:40 mark. The Saints replied with eight straight points, going ahead for good with 4:28 remaining. A layup by V'Dovec on MIT's next possession ended its scoring drought and brought it within 52-49. Marymount increased its lead with two free throws, but Gallagher's layup once again trimmed the deficit to three (54-51) with just under three minutes left to play. Both sides struggled to connect on the offensive end until the Saints drained the second of two free throws with 35 seconds to go. After a pair of missed layups, an MIT foul sent Marymount to the line where it built a 57-51 advantage with 18 seconds left. V'Dovec knocked a three-pointer eight seconds later but a Saints' free throw with six ticks to go secured the win.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- Holinski finished with 12 points and four assists while Gallagher produced 10 points and five rebounds. Luizzi rounded out the Engineers with 10 points and seven boards.
- MIT ended the day with slight advantages in rebounds (34-27) and second-chance points (9-6). Marymount had the upper hand in field-goal percentage (41.7 – 36.4), points off turnovers (17-11), and points in the paint (24-16).
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