Dudley, MA --- Point guard Baillie McNally (Mapleville, RI) scored all six of her points during a late 9-0 spurt to help WPI defeat Worcester State 59-56 in the championship game Saturday afternoon of the Worcester City Women's Basketball Tournament hosted by Nichols. The title was the fourth in the 30-year event for the Engineers and their first since 1995.
Oddly enough, it was the first title matchup between the Engineers and Lancers, who have been perennial participants since its inception in 1979. Both teams are now 2-1 on the young season
Trailing 50-48 with just over five minutes to go, WPI scored nine straight points over the next three minutes to take a lead they would not relinquish McNally, a true pass-first player, connected on her field goal of the season (in 115 minutes of action over three games) on a conventional three-point play to start the run, which was capped when she calmly drained a 3-pointer with 2:51 to put the Engineers ahead 57-50.
The Lancers would not go away quietly as three points each by Kaleigh Charette (Fairhaven, MA) and Kara Rogers (Lowell, MA) got them to within one at 57-56 before WPI freshman Siena Mamayek (Melrose, MA) canned a pair of free throws with just over a second left to seal the victory.
Lauren Hannmann (East Greenbush, NY) led all players with 16 points for the Crimson and Gray, while Tournament MVP Theresa Logan (Southboro, MA) pitched in with eight points and a team-best seven rebounds. Mamayek capped her fine opening week by earning All-Tournament accolades after notching nine points to go along with three assists and three rebounds.
Charette and Alexis George (Worcester, MA) each scored double digits with 15 and 11, respectively for the Lancers. Rogers chipped in with seven points. Meaghan O'Keefe (Warren, MA) and Charette combined to pull down a total of 15 rebounds on the afternoon.
Charette and O'Keefe earned All-Tournament Team honors for the Lancers, joining Mamayek, O'Keefe, Jessica Nelson (North Providence, RI) of Nichols and Chelsea Joubert (Westboro, MA) of Becker.
After drawing to an early 7-7 tie, four Engineers helped on an 11-3 run only to have the Lancers answer right back with a 9-0 run of their own to take the 19-18 lead. Neither team would see an advantage for more than five points the rest of the half and would be knotted at 31 going into the locker room.
The Engineers are off until after Thanksgiving when they host Rhode Island College on Sunday, November 29th at 2pm in a non-conference matchup. Worcester State ventures to UMass-Dartmouth for a non-conference tilt Tuesday night at 7pm.
Release Courtesy Nichols Sports Information