WORCESTER --- Spencer Vinson (Los Angeles, CA) netted a team-high 11 points, including a perfect 4-for-4 shooting performance from the floor, as host WPI upset previously unbeaten Williams 64-58 to give Engineer head coach Cherise Galasso her 350th career victory on Tuesday evening.
The win extends WPI's winning streak to a season-best four games and improves the Crimson and Gray to 9-4 on the season. Williams, which entered the non-conference contest as just one of just seven undefeated teams in Division III, slips to 11-1 overall.
Galasso, already WPI women's basketball's career victory leader, has amassed 315 of her wins while coaching on Boynton Hill the past 20 years to go along with 35 triumphs during a three-year stint at Regis.
Williams scored the first seven points of the second quarter to takes it largest lead of the night at 17-12 but the hosts tallied the final nine points of the half, highlighted by a Kara O'Neil (Holden, MA) jumper from the right wing to beat the buzzer and give the Engineers a 28-22 edge at intermission. It was the first of two buzzer-beaters for the hosts as Alana Keating (Leominster, MA) connected with Vinson on a long pass and breakaway layup to beat the third quarter horn.
WPI went ahead by 10 at 53-43 when O'Neil gobbled up an offensive rebound and fed Alex Scariati (Scotch Plains, NJ) for a 3-pointer from the top of the key with four minutes remaining. The Ephs would continue to attempt to chip into the WPI advantage down the stretch but the Crimson and Gray connected on 11-of-14 free throws in the final 1:05, including 6-for-6 in the final 30 seconds to secure the milestone win for Galasso.
Keating, who nailed consecutive trifectas in the second quarter, joined Vinson in double digits in scoring with 10 points while Maddie Blake (Bedford, NH) contributed nine points and eight rebounds. Melanie Presseau (Manchester, NH) and Scariati each tossed in eight points with Scariati handing out a team-high three assists.
Mikaela Topper (Cupertino, CA) led Williams with 23 points, five assists and three steals. Emily Chang (Newton, MA) added 10 points and six boards for the Ephs.
WPI is back in action on Thursday, hosting Western New England at 6pm in the second contest of a four-game home stand. Williams opens up NESCAC play this weekend, entertaining Hamilton on Friday and Amherst on Saturday.