WORCESTER -- Five different WPI women's basketball players reached double figures in scoring as the Engineers held off a late Rivier rally to defeated the visiting Raiders 74-71 in a non-conference women's basketball contest played Saturday afternoon inside Harrington Auditorium. 

With the win, the Engineers advance to 3-1 as Rivier falls to 0-2 on the young season.

Alice Kelly (Wethersfield, CT) and Emmy Allyn (Holden, MA) shared game-high scoring honors for the hosts with 12 points while Ava Giansiracusa (Wethersfield, CT) and Megan Stone (Hanson, MA) each added 11 and Allison Fullem (Underhill, VT) chipped in with 10.  Giansiracusa hauled in eight boards as the Boynton Hillers had seven different players grab four or more rebounds to help WPI to a 44-31 advantage on the glass.  Shannon Reno (Millbury, MA) doled out a game-best six assists and committed just one turnover in 28 minutes while Kelly was credited with four helpers. 

WPI and the visiting Raiders fought from the tip in the back-and-forth contest as the Crimson and Gray utilized points from Caitlyn Dasaro (Fairfield, VT), Allyn, Fullem, Paige Davenport (Albany, NY) and Stone to help the hosts jump out to a 15-7 lead with 2:45 remaining in the opening quarter of action. A good Giansiracusa trifecta closed out the scoring frenzy to give WPI 20-15 lead at the quarter break.

Rivier's Lyric Grumblatt (Manchester, NH) led the way for the Raiders with seven of the team's 17 points in the second quarter as Rachel Guinn (Clinton, MA) added a pair of three pointers towards the end of the half to keep the game at three-point deficit heading into the half. 

WPI opened the second half in dominant fashion, scoring nine consecutive points, from four different players, to extend its lead to 46-32.  The Engineers would hold a comfortable edge for most of the rest of way, leading 72-61 with 1:25 left on the clock.  A Hannah Muchemore (Nashua, NH) deep 3-pointer and a Grumblatt and-one highlighted a 10-2 Rivier spurt that got the Raiders to within three win the waning seconds but the Crimson and Gray's defense made one final stop and forced a Rivier misfire on game-tying trifecta bid.

Grumblatt (31) and Muchemore (24) combined for 52 of the Raiders 71 points.  Grumblatt registered six rebounds and Muchemore handed out four assists. 

WPI enjoys a one-week hiatus, entertaining Curry next Saturday at 2pm. Rivier visits Brandeis for a 6pm matchup on Tuesday.