Defense Keys WPI to Victory Over Coast Guard

More news about: WPI
Jan 05, 2011

Worcester, MA --- Elle Fontaine (Franklin, MA) and Lauren Hannmann (East Greenbush, NY) combined for 27 points as WPI used a strong start in both halves to dispatch visiting Coast Guard 51-27 in NEWMAC women's basketball action on Wednesday evening.

WPI won its third straight game, tying its season-best and moves to 8-3 on the season and 4-1 in conference play.  The Bears are now 3-7 overall and 0-5 in NEWMAC action. 

The Engineers never trailed, notching 13 of the game's first 15 points.  The Crimson and Gray used a strong defensive effort in the early surge, holding the Bears to 1-of-7 shooting from the floor in the opening 6:20 while forcing four CGA turnovers.   WPI took a 30-19 advantage into the locker room at the break, scoring 18 of its 30 points in the paint and scoring all 10 of the game's first half fast break points. 

The second half saw the WPI defense tighten, holding the Bears to just eight points on 4-of-26 (15.4%) shooting from the floor.

Fontaine paced all players with 14 points, including a pair of 3-pointers while Hannmann tallied 10 of her 13 points in the opening stanza.  Melissa Kuhn (Stoughton, MA) and Baillie McNally (Mapleville, RI) handed out five and four assists respectively as WPI registered 16 assists on 22 made fields.

Theresa Logan (Southboro, MA) added seven points for the Engineers while Siena Mamayek (Melrose, MA) led all reserves with six points off the bench.

Karli Collins (Delavan, WI) spearheaded the Coast Guard effort with eight points and a game-high 11 rebounds.  Kaitlin Ward (Saline, MI) filled the stat sheets for the Bears with seven points, a team-best three assists and three rebounds.

Coast Guard enjoyed success on the boards, outrebounding the Engineers 45-30 and enjoying a 17-8 bulge in second chance points.

WPI closes out a five-game homestand on Saturday with a 2pm matchup versus Wheaton.  Coast Guard plays the middle contest of a three-game road trip on Saturday, heading back to Worcester to take on Clark at 1pm.