WORCESTER – Junior Ama Biney (Worcester, MA) was named MVP and senior Priscilla Dunphy(Barrington, RI) earned a spot on the WPI Thanksgiving All-Classic Team as the women's basketball team defeated Johnson & Wales 61-49 Sunday afternoon in Harrington Auditorium.
The Engineers (5-1) extend their winning-streak to five as the Wildcats slip to 3-2 on the season.
Biney averaged 22 points, five rebounds and 2.5 steals over the two-day event. Sunday, meanwhile, belonged to Dunphy as she dropped a career-high 19 points, on 8 of 11 shooting and 13 in the first half alone, and corralled a game-best eight rebounds. Junior Stasha Greenalch(Newington, CT) totaled five points and five boards as classmates Madison Beck (Syracuse, NY) and Maura Buckley (Melrose, MA) combined for 14 points. Beck also handed in five rebounds.
Junior Ashley Thompson (Bellingham, MA) posted 12 points, four rebounds, three steals and a block for a two-day total of 42 points, 16 rebounds, eight steals and a pair of blocks en route to All-Classic status. Sophomore Ally Mishol (Longmeadow, MA) chipped in with 12 as well. Junior Raquel Pederzani (Coventry, RI) scored 10 and handed out four helpers as junior Sarah Duryea (Middle Village, NY) delivered eight points and six assists.
The first quarter featured a trio of ties and lead changes with neither team going up by more than three. With 6:30 remaining in the half, Greenalch converted a steal into a layup for the 18-17 lead. The Engineers, led by five by Dunphy, increased the margin to seven with 3:43 left until the break. Mishol took it upon herself with a triple and a layup to cut the deficit to a pair at 1:27. Beck sent the Engineers to the locker room with a 29-25 lead thanks to a layup with just over a minute remaining.
Biney accounted for eight points and Beck chipped in with five as the Engineers held the 47-35 advantage after three. Mishol kept the Wildcats in the game as she was responsible for six of the first 10 points of the fourth to keep the game within 10. Biney went 4 for 4 at the line in the final minute while Duryea canned a late triple for the 61-49 final.
WPI hits the road for the first of three NEWMAC contests 7pm Wednesday at Wellesley. Johnson & Wales welcomes Rhode Island College for a 7pm game Thursday.
WPI Thanksgiving All-Classic Team
Ama Biney (WPI) – MVP
Priscilla Dunphy (WPI)
Ashley Thompson (JWU)
Ava Adamopoulos (Springfield)
Kate Goodell (RPI)