Worcester, MA --- Junior guard Lauren Hannmann (East Greenbush, NY) tallied a game-high 15 points to lead the WPI women's basketball team to a 46-41 victory over the MIT Engineers in a New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) women's basketball contest this evening. 

In additional to her 15 points, Hannmann filled the stat sheets with a team-best seven rebounds, two assists and three steals.  Senior Melissa Kuhn (Stoughton, MA) chipped in nine points and six boards, while classmate Elle Fontaine (Franklin, MA) added seven points including 5-of-6 from the free throw line. 

MIT (6-9, 2-7) was led by guard Margo Batie's (Los Angeles, CA) 12 points, while seniorTamara Pena (Aliso Viejo, CA) and freshman Rachel Hunt (Arlington Heights, IL) chipped in nine points apiece.  Pena knocked down a trio of three pointers, while Hunt grabbed and guard Lauren Sascha Burton (Seattle, WA) each grabbed a game-high nine boards. 

WPI (12-3, 8-1), winners of seven straight, never trailed in the first half and they led by as many as 12 with 2:16 left in the frame, before MIT used a flurry of three pointers to cut the deficit before the break.  Battie struck first at 1:11 and Anna Merrifield (Honolulu, HI) added a pair of treys to pull the visitors within two at the break (22-20).  The Crimson and Gray held MIT to just seven field goals in the first half  with five of them coming from behind the arc. 

With the score tied at 32-32 with 9:58 remaining, WPI rattled off an 8-0 run including a pair of fast break layups from guard Kelly Morgan (Brookline, NH) and a Hannmann jumper in the paint.  MIT responded with a run of their own to pull within three (44-41) with 35 seconds remaining as they capitalized on WPI misses from the free throw line. The Engineers missed the front end of three one-and-ones allowing MIT to close the gap.  Pena had a chance to tie the game with a three that rattled out and resulted in a jump ball that gave WPI possession with 10 seconds remaining.  After an MIT foul, Fontaine sealed the win with two free throws.

Both teams return to the hardwood on Saturday for conference road games.  WPI heads to New London for a 2pm contest versus Coast Guard while MIT ventures back to Worcester to take on Clark at 1pm.

Release Courtesy K.A. Lynch