WORCESTER -- Allison McMorrow (Quincy, MA) erupted for a career-high 14 points, all in the first half, as 12 different Engineer players dented the scoring column as the Engineers defeated visiting Mount Holyoke 80-16 in a NEWMAC women's basketball contest played on Saturday afternoon in Harrington Auditorium. 

WPI improves to 12-4 on the season and 2-1 in conference play while the Lyons slip to 2-16 overall and 0-3 in NEWMAC action. 

McMorrow, whose previous career-high of nine points was last January at Mount Holyoke, drained 5-of-6 shots from the field, including a perfect 2-for-2 from both the 3-point land and the free throw line, off the bench in the opening 20 minutes of play.  As a team, WPI shot a sizzling 66.7% on field goal attempts in the opening quarter and 61.8% overall for the first half en route to a 26-7 advantage at the end of first quarter and a 57-11 lead at the intermission.    

The Engineer defense was the story, allowing a season-low 16 points while holding the Lyons to 14.8% shooting from the floor and just one made 3-pointer in 27 attempts (3.7%).  WPI entered the game second in NCAA Division III and third overall in all divisions of NCAA in scoring defense (46.6 ppg) and with the performance, moved into second overall, surpassing defending Division I national champion South Carolina (45.7) now allowing 44.3 ppg. 

Victoria Mirecki (Washingtonville, NY) and Melanie Presseau (Manchester, NY) both joined McMorrow in double digit scoring for the Engineers.  Mirecki netted 12 points while Presseau notched 10, including a pair of first quarter trifectas.  Emily Raynowska (Brentwood, NH) made the most of her first start of the season with all nine of her points in the first half on 4-of-4 shooting from the floor and sharing game-high assists honors with Shannon Reno (Millbury, MA) with four helpers.  Megan Stone (Hanson, MA) was strong inside for the hosts, establishing new career-highs in both scoring (8) and rebounding (8), including seven on the offensive glass. 

Isabel Cordes (Yorktown, NY) paced Mount Holyoke offensively with nine points and six rebounds while playing all 40 minutes and Kendall Maurer (Orinda, CA) accounted for the Lyons 3-pointer.  

WPI begins a brief two-game road swing Wednesday, venturing to Wheaton on Wednesday for an 8pm match-up and then heading to Emerson for a 1pm Saturday contest.  Mount Holyoke entertains a pair of nationally-ranked opponents next week, squaring off with No. 11 Babson at 7pm on Wednesday before tangling with No. 5 Smith at 1pm on Saturday.