Norton, MA --- A game-starting 11-0 run fueled by three baskets by McKenna Finken (Simsbury, CT) and a perfect 9-for-9 shooting night from the floor from fellow graduate student Lisa Cristiano (Valhalla, NY) helped visiting WPI knock off Wheaton 73-47 in a NEWMAC women's basketball contest played on Wednesday evening. 

The Engineers, winners of two straight, move to 13-4 on the season and 3-1 in conference play.  Wheaton dips to 11-8 overall and 1-3 in NEWMAC action.   

After missing a shot on the initial possession of the game, the Crimson and Gray connected on its next five attempts with a trio of Finken buckets sandwiched around a Cristiano layup and a Melanie Presseau (Manchester, NH) 3-pointer to put WPI ahead double-digits just 2:48 into the game.  An Alice Kelly (Wethersfield, CT) layup put the guests up 17-7 and ignited a 10-2 spurt culminating in a pair of Cristiano baskets in the paint to end the opening frame.  Wheaton would not trim the deficit to single digits the rest of the way.    

Cristiano canned all nine of her field goal attempts and added a free throw for her game-high 19 points.  The center also grabbed seven rebounds, including six off the defensive glass, and added a block.   The Engineers showcased incredible balance after Cristiano with eight players collecting between five and eight points.  Finken, Alex Scariati (Scotch Plains, NJ) and Victoria Mirecki (Washingtonville, NY) all finished with eight points, Presseau, Emily Raynowska (Brentwood, NH) and Allison McMorrow (Quincy, MA) each contributed six and Kelly and Adrianna Niles (Tewksbury, MA) both chipped in with five. 

Scariati accounted for eight of the guests 18 assists on the night while Kelly posted game-highs of eight rebounds and three steals.  As team, the Boynton Hillers shot an eye-popping 56.6% (30-for-53) from the floor, enjoyed a 48-12 advantage in points in the paints and held a 23-4 edge in points off turnovers.

Madeline Duwe (Greenville, SC) paced three Lyons in double figures in scoring with 14 points, including a pair of 3-points.  Kiki Walters (Fleetwood, MA) totaled all 12 points off the bench for the hosts to go along with eight points and Abby Fernandes (Assonet, MA) also finished with 12 points.  Regan Keyter (Highlands Ranch, CO) just missed cracking double digits with nine points.

Both teams are back in action on Saturday at 1pm.  WPI wraps up a quick two-game road trip with a 1pm tilt at Emerson while Wheaton concludes a two-game homestand against Worcester teams, entertaining Clark.