WORCESTER – For the second time in three games senior Madison Beck (Syracuse, NY) registered a new career high in points as WPI edged visiting Springfield 54-49 Wednesday night in a NEWMAC Women Basketball matchup in Harrington Auditorium.

The Engineers improve to 9-3 overall and 2-1 in league play and hand the Pride (9-3, 3-1) their first conference loss of the season.

After senior Brittney Lambert (Hudson, NH) and sophomore Alex Goslin (South Windsor, CT) exchanged 3-pointers to make it a 7-7 game, the Engineer hit another to spark a 7-0 run that concluded at 5:13. A triple by sophomore Lauren Rudolph (Franklin, MA) and a freebie by Goslin chipped the margin to three. WPI then went up by five on a pair of occasions but were countered for the 3-point difference through the first quarter.

Junior Chelsea McAllister (Baltimore, VT) went on a personal 4-0 run to give Springfield the 19-18 lead with 7:52 left in the half. Junior Gracie Restituyo (Barrington, RI) pushed it to six only to have Beck answer on the next possession. Springfield grabbed its largest lead of the half following a jumper by senior Heather King (Lebanon, NH) at 4:38. Senior Ama Biney (Worcester, MA) scored the next four points, including an and-one. A second-chance bucket by Senior Maura Buckley (Melrose, MA) made it a two-point game at the break.

Senior Stasha Greenalch (Newington, CT) eventually evened it up at 35 following a pair of free throws at 5:49. Biney put the Engineers ahead by three with a long buzzer-beater to end the third.

Buckley put the Engineers in front for good when the made it 49-47 with 5:23 left in the game. Greenalch and Beck hit their free throws down the stretch to pad the cushion.

Beck also filled the stat sheet with five rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block while not committing a turnover. Biney finished with a dozen points and nine rebounds while Lambert netted six and pulled down six.

Goslin canned 14 points followed by McAllister with seven and sophomore Emily Jacques (Auburn, MA) with six. Restituyo led with nine boards.

Each team shot in the 30s with WPI leading in most statistical categories including points off turnovers (17-5) and in the paint (26-16).

Both teams continue NEWMAC action Saturday as the Engineers head to Wheaton for a 1pm opening tip and the Pride travel to Wellesley for a 2pm start.