Leicester, MA --- Senior Lisa Mendez (Yonkers, NY) and sophomore Brittney Lambert (Hudson, NH) each scored a dozen points as the WPI women's basketball team opened the 2015-16 season, and 35th annual Worcester City Tournament, with a non-conference victory over host Becker, 79-17. The Engineers have now won their last four season openers.
Sophomore Ama Biney (Worcester, MA) added 11 points while sophomore Maura Buckley (Melrose, MA) and freshman Katie Nugent (Huntington, NY) pitched in with eight and six, respectively. Junior Priscilla Dunphy (Barrington, RI) chipped in with five as four others recorded four points each in the balanced attack. Defensively, rookie Jackie Panneton (Salem, MA) led the way with six rebounds followed by Nugent, Biney and junior Tess Nogueira (Merrimac, MA) with four apiece. Noguiera also collected a game-best six steals.
Becker was led by freshman Adrianna Dowdy (East Haven, CT) with five points and five rebounds. Classmate Avrie Bassingthwaite (Swanzey, NH), junior Marissa Turner (Coventry, RI) and senior Gabrielle Gallo (Northport, NY) all contributed with four points each. Gallo and freshman Ciara McKissick (Charlton, MA) shared game-high honors with seven boards.
The two squads totaled eight free throw attempts with Becker canning all three of its chances. WPI enjoyed a 43-35 margin in rebounds and totaled 24 assists, including five from sophomore Stasha Greenalch (Newington, CT), while scoring 46 points off turnovers. The Engineer bench also amassed 53 points on the night. The Crimson and Gray, who shot 47.9 percent from the floor - including 34.8 percent from long range, held advantages of 27-2, 46-8, 67-10 and 79-17 at the end of each quarter.
Becker will return to the court tomorrow for the 1pm consolation game versus Worcester State while WPI will vie for its seventh city title, and second in-a-row, at approximately 3pm against Clark.