Greenalch Outscores Bates in Third Quarter of WPI’s Road Triumph

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Lewiston, ME --- Junior Stasha Greenalch (Newington, CT) came off the bench and scored six points in an explosive third quarter and accounted for all 12 bench points as WPI went on the road to defeat host Bates, 51-44, Monday afternoon in a non-conference women's basketball game at Alumni Gym. As a result, the Engineers improve their winning-streak to nine games and own a 9-1 record ahead of their own Holiday Tournament next weekend (Dec. 30-Dec. 31).

Trailing 19-13 with 1:22 left in the first half, junior Ama Biney (Worcester, MA) canned a free throw and later a jumper to spark an 18-0 run that lasted well into the third. Senior Tess Nogueira (Merrimac, MA) had the final say with a layup with seconds remaining in the half. After the break, Greenalch hit back-to-back layups and later added a pair of freebies for the 28-19 lead. Senior Priscilla Dunphy (Barrington, RI) eventually sealed the spurt with a jumper at 5:44.

Senior Bernadette Connors (Windham, NH) nailed a 3-pointer only to see junior Maura Buckley (Melrose, MA) get an easy layup moments later in transition. The Engineers closed out the 24-point frame with a 7-0 run following a layup by freshman Carly Christofi (Fairlawn, NJ) with 2:35 to go in the third. The Bobcats were able to pull within seven with five remaining in the game but Dunphy and Buckley drained back-to-back threes to put the game out of reach. Senior Sarah Rogers (Colchester, CT) made it a 10-point margin with just over a minute to play.

Bates won three of the four quarters with an 11-10 and 8-7 edge in the first and second for the 19-17 advantage after 20 minutes.

Dunphy (six rebounds, two assists, steal) joined Greenalch (four steals, three assists, steal) with a dozen points as Biney stuffed the stat sheet with 11 points, six rebounds, four steals, three assists and a block. Rogers delivered a game-best 10 rebounds to go with a pair of helpers. Buckley was efficient with seven points on 3 of 5 shooting, including a three, in just eight minutes of action.

Junior Lyse Henshaw (Brunswick, ME) provided 18 points to go with four rebounds in the complete game for the Bobcats. Senior Allie Coppola (Tarrytown, NY) and junior Lexie Nason (Boxford, MA) each pulled down five boards while Christofi and Connors each doled out a trio of assists.

WPI held wide margins in points in the paint (24-10) and contributions from the bench (18-2).

The Bobcats (2-6) are back in action against MIT Thursday at the Salem State Holiday Classic.

WPI Holiday Tournament Schedule

Friday, December 30, 2016
Game #1 - WPI vs. Oberlin - 5:00pm
Game #2 - Wesleyan vs. Bridgewater St. - 7:00pm

Saturday, December 31, 2016
Consolation - 1:00pm
Championship - 3:00pm