THE BASICS:

- Score: MIT 80, Westfield State University 74

- Records: MIT (7-2); Westfield State (4-6)

- Location: Westfield, Mass. (Woodward Center)

- The Lead: Despite a 21-5 run by Westfield State University in the fourth quarter, the MIT women's basketball team held on for an 80-74 victory on Monday night. Junior Angie Choi (Cypress, Calif.) powered the Engineers with career highs and game highs in point (26) and rebounds (12) while also generating five assists and two steals.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

- MIT gradually established a 22-9 lead after a jumper by junior Olivia Joseph (Newtown Square, Pa.) with 2:44 left in the opening frame. Westfield State countered with a 9-1 run to close out the quarter.

- The Engineers ended their scoring drought courtesy of Choi's three pointer just 10 seconds into the second stanza. The visitors maintained a small cushion as a layup brought the Owls within 38-30 with 3:16 remaining. Following a brief exchange of possessions, a layup by junior Kamsi Nwogu (Algonquin, Ill.) sparked a 9-0 run which resulted in a 47-30 advantage at halftime.

- A balanced third quarter moved the score to 65-45 heading into the final frame.

- Westfield State opened the fourth quarter with a 16-5 run, cutting its deficit to nine at the 5:28 mark. The score remained unchanged until the Owls drained a three pointer exactly 2:30 later and then a layup brought them within 70-66 with 2:17 remaining. A trey by Choi at the 1:29 mark created some breathing room and then she went 2-of-4 at the free throw line, increasing MIT's lead to 75-66 with 47 seconds left to play.

- The hosts responded by converting a three-point play during their next possession, however, first year April Chan (Fremont, Calif.) quickly drained a free throw. Westfield State followed with a free throw of its own, but graduate student Christina Antonakakis (Holmdel, N.J.) sank both shots at the charity stripe to increase the lead to 78-70 with 25.9 seconds on the clock. The Owls made a free throw eight seconds later; however, the Engineers went 2-of-4 at the free throw line, resulting in an 80-71 advantage with 6.6 seconds remaining. Westfield State capped the scoring with a three-pointer right before time expired.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

- Antonakakis finished with 17 points and three assists while Nwogu recorded nine points, nine rebounds, and two steals. Sophomore Alice Hall (Ambler, Pa.) contributed seven rebounds, six points, four blocks, and two assists.

- The Owls ended the night with advantages in points off turnovers (26-17), second-chance points (14-10), bench scoring (37-19), points in the paint (42-24), and fast break points (17-10).

- MIT shot 46.3 percent (25-of-54) from the floor, 43.5 percent (10-of-23) from behind the arc, and 66.7 percent (20-of-30) at the free throw line.

- Westfield State shot 33.7 percent (30-of-89) from the floor, 26.9 percent (7-of-26) from three-point range, and 63.6 percent (7-of-11) at the charity stripe.

UP NEXT:

- MIT returns to action on Saturday, Dec. 30 when it hosts the University of Southern Maine at 2:00 p.m.

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