Cambridge, MA --- In a back-and-forth fourth quarter, WPI put together six straight points late in regulation to emerge with a 56-53 victory over MIT in a NEWMAC women's basketball game on Saturday afternoon. Senior Sabrina Drammis (Hilton Head Island, SC) led all players with 18 points and 11 rebounds in addition to dishing out three assists for MIT (3-3, 2-1 NEWMAC). Sophomore Ama Biney (Worcester, MA) paced WPI's (7-1, 3-0 NEWMAC) balanced attack with 15 points to go along with a game-high four assists.
MIT established an 18-7 advantage with 1:10 left in the opening quarter following back-to-back layups by freshman Kara Holinski (Livonia, MI) and a three-pointer from classmate Taylor V'Dovec (Blaine, WA). A trey by sophomore Madison Beck (Syracuse, NY) ended WPI's five-minute scoring drought but a Drammis jumper with eight seconds on the clock gave the hosts a 20-10 lead at the break.
MIT increased its lead with early layups from senior Maya Ramachandran (Fremont, CA) and Holinski; however, a bucket by Biney sparked a 15-4 run that put WPI in front, 41-36 with 1:17 left to play. Beck accounted for five points during the rally, including a three-pointer that gave WPI its first lead of the day, while Biney had four points. MIT countered with a Holinski trey and Ramachandran layup to enter the final frame tied at 41.
A pair of ties and lead changes marked the first two minutes of the fourth quarter. Following unsuccessful possessions by both sides, MIT inched ahead, 49-45, courtesy of layups by freshmanKristen Ngan (Sudbury, MA) and Holinski. WPI cut its deficit in half on a Mendez layup at 5:35 and then tied the game on a jumper by junior Tess Nogueira (Merrimac, MA) with just under four minutes to go. With 1:52 remaining, junior Liana Ilutzi (East Hanover, NJ) gave MIT a 51-49 edge when Ngan tipped a ball that was going out of bounds underneath MIT's basket to Ilutzi for the layup.
On WPI's next possession, a Luna jumper produced the final tie of the day while her own steal and layup quickly kept the visitors ahead for good. A steal by WPI sophomore Stasha Greenalch(Newington, CT) later put her at the free throw line where she hit the first of two attempts with 21 seconds remaining. MIT's next trip down the court resulted in a jumper that was off the mark and a foul on Greenalch, who sank the second of two shots at the charity stripe with 12 ticks on the clock. Following its own timeout, MIT used five seconds before Drammis buried a jumper that brought it within two (55-53). A foul sent Biney to the free throw line where she secured the victory on her second shot.
Holinski finished with 13 points and six rebounds as Ramachandran totaled 10 points, three blocks, and two assists for MIT. Ilutzi rounded out the squad with three assists.
Luna notched eight points and two steals as Beck generated eight points and four rebounds. Greenalch and junior Sarah Rogers (Colchester, CT) both grabbed five boards as Greenalch snagged two steals. Mendez bolstered WPI's scoring with seven points while senior Jessica Larsen (Poway, CA) dished out three assists.
Both squads return to non-conference action on Tuesday, Dec. 8. MIT will host Framingham State while WPI will travel to Fitchburg State.
Release Courtesy MIT Sports Information