Dudley, MA --- Junior Haili Welton (Southbury, CT) narrowly missed a double-double and head coach Cherise Galasso won her 250th career game as WPI defeated Nichols, 69-48, on the road in a non-conference matchup Tuesday night at the Nichols Athletic Center.
The Engineers improve to 4-1 on the year while the Bison slip to 2-1. It was the first meeting between the two programs since November 19, 2010 in which the Crimson and Gray topped the Bison 65-60. That game was also played in Dudley.
Galasso, now 250-201 overall, is currently 215-163 in 14-plus seasons on the WPI sideline following a 35-38 record at Regis from 1997-2000.
Welton led all scorers with 12 points to go with nine rebounds and three steals. Senior Dani Davis (East Granby, CT) registered 11 points, two rebounds, two assists, and one steal while classmate Amaia Gritsko (Milford, CT) snared a game-high 11 rebounds.
Sophomore Taylor Daniels (Dudley, MA) led the Bison with 11 points. Freshman Brooke Packard (Dudley, MA) added eight points, senior Amber Litwinko (Berlin, CT) netted seven, and senior Sarah Whitestone (Dalton, MA) and sophomore Julia Zawacki (Waterford, CT) each finished with six. Nichols shot 30 percent from the field (18-of-60) and was outrebounded 49-40.
WPI built a 41-28 halftime lead behind seven from both Davis and Welton. The Engineers controlled the paint, outrebounding Nichols 24-15 while turning 10 turnovers into 10 points. They also went to the line 15 times (made nine) while the Bison were 2-for-2 from the charity stripe. Daniels scored all 11 of her points in the first half.
Nichols was outscored 23-4 during the first 12 minutes of the second half as the Engineers opened up a 32-point lead (64-32). The Bison closed the game on a 6-0 run, capped by a three from half court by Packard. The Engineers finished the contest shooting 40 percent (27-of-67). Each team sank four three-point field goals. WPI scored 17 second-chance points.
Both teams return to action on Wednesday, December 3rd. WPI hosts Coast Guard at 7pm and the Bison open CCC play at Roger Williams at 5:30 p.m.
Major portion courtesy Nichols Sports Information