WORCESTER – Junior Ama Biney (Worcester, MA) and senior Priscilla Dunphy (Barrington, RI) combined for 31 points in a 51-37 non-conference women's basketball victory over Oberlin in the WPI Holiday Tournament opener Friday evening in Harrington Auditorium,
The Engineers up their record to 10-1 for the second consecutive season and closes out the calendar year tomorrow at 3pm versus the winner of the nightcap between Wesleyan and Bridgewater State. Oberlin (3-6) takes on the other team in the 1pm consolation contest.
The first period saw two ties before WPI gained the lead following a bucket by Dunphy with less than half of the frame remaining. Sophomore Jackie Panneton (Salem, MA) and junior Stasha Greenalch (Newington, CT) each hit a layup in the final 90-plus seconds for a pair of four-point leads. A jumper by junior Tyler Parlor (Detroit, MI) cut the Yeowomen deficit to a pair with 18 ticks to go.
WPI never trailed in the second which featured a pair of six-point cushions behind a pair of free throws and a jumper by Biney at 4:57 and 4:20. Parlor was key in forging two more ties beginning with a layup at 3:56 and concluding with a pair of freebies at 1:18.
The Engineers outscored their guests 14-5 in the third, including eight by Biney. After junior Abby Andrews' (Ann Arbor, MI) basket 57 seconds into the stanza, it would take until 3:47 for Oberlin to score again, this time in the form of a 3-pointer by freshman Sarah Thompson (Manchester, MI).
Oberlin was able to get within five courtesy of a jumper by sophomore Alex Stipano (Alexandria, VA) with 7:28 to play. The Engineers then pulled away and reached a double-digit lead following a pair of free throws by Dunphy. The margin remained above 10 for the remainder of the contest while senior Tess Nogueira (Merrimac, MA) punctuated the victory with a layup for the 51-37 final.
Biney delivered 17 points, nine rebounds, seven steals and an assist as Dunphy finished with 14 points, six rebounds, two steals and two assists. The duo also combined to go 9 of 11 at the free throw line.
Andrews collected 10 points and six rebounds, sophomore Olivia Canning (Detroit, MI) chipped in with seven boards and Parlor doled out four assists.
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