SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – MIT outscored Springfield College, 30-10, in the second half en route to a 53-28 win in a NEWMAC women's basketball game on Saturday afternoon. The 25-point margin of victory is the largest for the Engineers against the Pride (2-12, 0-8 NEWMAC) and helped them improve to 7-7 on the year and 3-5 in conference action. Freshman Maya Ramachandran (Fremont, Calif.) and sophomore Mari Kordell (Ijamsville, Md.) both registered a game-high 12 points for MIT as Ramachandran added 12 rebounds, six blocks, and two assists.
Junior Rachel Hunt (Arlington Heights, Ill.) posted six points, four rebounds, and three blocks as sophomore Michelle Battipaglia (Katonah, N.Y.) collected five rebounds, two steals, and a block for the Cardinal and Gray. Senior Lauren Sascha Burton (Seattle, Wash.) notched four rebounds, four assists, and two steals while freshman Durva Bhandare (North Brunswick, N.J.) chipped in seven points. As a team, MIT shot 48 percent for the day while holding Springfield to a shooting performance of 19 percent and out-rebounded the Pride, 39-28.
A layup by Hunt and then a three-pointer from junior Tamara Pena (Aliso Viejo, Calif.) gave the Engineers an early lead, but Springfield replied with an 8-1 spurt which put it in front, 8-6, after five minutes expired. MIT responded with a 17-4 run that put it ahead for good and established a 23-12 advantage with 2:20 left in half. The Pride countered by generating six straight points to enter the intermission trailing, 23-18.
The hosts carried the momentum into the second stanza as two free throws on their opening possession brought them within three. On the Engineers' ensuing trip down the court Kordell buried a three-pointer, igniting a 25-3 run that was capped by sophomore Osheiza Otori's (Metairie, La.) trifecta which resulted in a 48-23 lead with 5:43 on the clock. After being held scoreless for eight minutes, Springfield produced the next five points. MIT then finished off the game at the charity stripe with Ramachandran converting both of her attempts and Bhandare going 3-of-4 at the line.
Next up for MIT will be a road trip to NEWMAC foe Wheaton College on Wednesday, January 16.