Daytona Beach, FL --- The WPI women's basketball squad rallied late taking the lead with 7:16 remaining in the fourth quarter and never looked back en route to a 72-62 non-conference victory over Husson at the at Florida Sunshine Shootout in the Ocean Center Daytona Beach. 

With the triumph, the Engineers hold a three-game winning streak and advance to 8-2 on the season as the Eagles drop to 6-4. 

Both teams battled throughout the first quarter which resulted in a tie at 10 apiece. Husson went on a 5-0 run, led by four points from Makaelyn Porter (Smyrna Mills, ME). The Engineers outscored the Eagles in the paint 20-6 throughout the opening half of play, seeing points from a handful of players contributing to a 29-28 lead heading into the locker room. 

At the 7:16 mark in the fourth quarter, the Crimson and Gray kicked off a run that would build an insurmountable for the Eagles starting with a trifecta by Lisa Cristiano (Valhalla, NY) assisted by Melanie Presseau (Manchester, NH). The next six points were also scored by Cristiano, scoring nine points in two minutes of gameplay. 

WPI led the game for 13:09 minutes while Husson was in front for 22:57, and there were a total of 14 lead changes and the game was all tied up eight different times. 

For the Engineers, Cristiano led the team with an outstanding 21 points, nine of which in the final quarter of regulation, and 77% from the floor. Victoria Mirecki (Washingtonville, NY) scored 17 points with eight in the second quarter, adding on three rebounds along with Cristiano. A double-double was achieved by Alex Scariati (Scotch Plains, NJ) with 12 points and 10 assists.  It was the third career double-double for the graduate student and first of the 2022-23 season.  Alice Kelly (Wethersfield, CT) grabbed 10 boards and added on seven points. 

For the Eagles, Vanessa Duarte (Hawthorne, NY) scored 15 points and five assists as Hannah Richards (Bradley, ME) and Trinity Montigny (Ellsworth, ME) each obtained double-digit points with 13 and 11 respectively. Montigny achieved the team high of rebounds with seven and Bailey Donovan (Island Falls, ME) swatted three blocks.  

The Boynton Hillers shot 49.2% on the afternoon including 31.3% from behind the arc. The Engineers secured 38 points in the paint and added 21 bench points. Husson made 34.6% with 28.0% from behind the three-point line. The Eagles nabbed 10 steals and recorded 16 points off of turnovers.  

WPI returns to the floor tomorrow for another tilt in the Florida Sunshine Shootout against Mt. Aloysius at 3pm and Husson will take tomorrow off as they plan to square off with King's College (PA) on Friday, Dec. 30th. 

Recap written by WPI Sports Information Student Assistant Maya Vartabedian