WORCESTER -- Stout defense and a balanced offense led the WPI women's basketball team to a commanding 50-23 win over visiting UMass Boston on Saturday at home. The Engineers run their record to 7-2 on the season, while the Beacons dip to 6-5.
WPI allowed just 23 points, the best defensive effort for the Engineers since a 61-16 victory over Mount Holyoke on November 29, 2017. WPI held the Beacons to just 8-of-45 from the field (17.8%) today, while out-rebounding the visitors 48-29.
Nine players dented the scoring column for WPI, led by eight-point games from both Emily Raynowska (Brentwood, NH) and Adrianna Niles (Tewksbury, MA). Raynowska also added six rebounds with Niles picking up five. McKenna Finken (Simsbury, CT) added seven points, five boards, and two steals, while Caitlyn Desaro (Fairfield, VT) and Alex Scariati (Scotch Plains, NJ) each added six points with Scariati notching six boards.
For the Beacons, Meg Dixon (Hanover, MA) led the way with eight points and eight rebounds. Sibayla Jensen (Portland, OR) added four points and three steals in the loss.
UMass Boston got the first bucket, but WPI made an extended 11-0 run, backed by five points from Scariati to build a nine-point lead with 2:43 to play. The Beacons broke their trout with a Beeban Jikiemi-Pearson (London, England) lay-up but WPI answered with two from Finken to close the first quarter up 13-4.
In a defensive-minded second half, WPI outscored UMass Boston, 9-2, to take a 16-point edge at the half. Raynowska scored the final four points of the frame, which gave the Engineers a 22-6 advantage.
After 20 minutes of play, WPI held UMass Boston to just 10% from the field (2-20), while out-rebounding the Beacons 25-13. Raynowska led the Engineers with eight first half points.
Dixon buried a pair of threes as UMass Boston opened the third quarter with an 8-2 run to close the gap to 24-14 with 4:38 left in the frame. WPI countered with a 7-0 surge that ended the frame with the hosts up 34-14.
WPI maintained its advantage in the final frame, with the lead growing to as many as 27, as the Engineers closed out the 50-23 victory.
WPI now enjoys some extended time off for B Term finals and the Christmas holiday. The Crimson and Gray is back on the court in late December in the Florida Sunshine Shootout. The Engineers square off with Husson on Wednesday, December 28th, and tangle with Mt. Aloysius (PA) on Thursday, December 29th in Daytona Beach. Both games are slated for 3pm starts. After a week off, UMass Boston returns home on Saturday, December 10th to face off with Rhode Island College in a 1pm Little East Conference title.