Cambridge, MA --- Elise Harvey (Wayland, MA) and Kamsi Nwogu (Algonquin, IL) combined for 19 second points to lift host MIT to a 56-50 come-from-behind victory over WPI in a NEWMAC women's basketball match-up in Rockwell Cage on Saturday afternoon.
 
Both teams are now 7-10 overall while MIT remains undefeated in NEWMAC action at 3-0 while WPI dips 0-3 in conference contests            
 
The opening quarter was nip and tuck throughout with MIT pushing a small lead to four at 12-8 on a Sarah Berman (York, PA) 3-pointer with 1:09 to go in the frame, but WPI's Shannon Reno (Millbury, MA) countered with a trey of her own two possessions later to cut the guest deficit to one headed to the second.   Worcester's Engineers got a boost off the bench from Ava Giansiracusa (Wethersfield, CT), who connected on a pair of trifectas in the second 10 minutes and their defense limited the hosts to just six points on 16.7% shooting from the floor en route to taking a 26-18 edge into the intermission.
 
The hosting Engineers used a balanced offensive attach to outscore WPI 19-11 in the third quarter and were poised to end the frame ahead, but for the second time on the day, Reno closed out the scoring of a quarter with a 3-pointer to send the two teams to the final quarter knotted at 37.

Following two ties and two lead changes in the fourth quarter, WPI went up 44-41 courtesy of a three pointer by Alice Kelly (Wethersfield, CT) with 8:12 on the clock. After some back-and-forth play, two free throws from junior Alice Hall (Ambler, PA) kicked off a pivotal 9-0 MIT run over the next 1:42 that made the score 50-44 with five minutes left in regulation.  Megan Stone (Hanson, MA) cut WPI's deficit in half courtesy of a three-point play during its next possession. However,Kwogu quickly registered one of her own, moving the score to 53-47.  Giansiracusa recorded a free throw and then jumper, once again bringing WPI within three at the 2:41 mark. Hall replied with a bucket during MIT's next trip down the court to create some breathing room.  Following a series of possessions, Libi Matityahoo (Yehud Monosson, Israel) secured the victory with a free throw with nine seconds remaining.
 
Giansiracusa led three WPI players in double figure scoring with 15 points, including a trio of 3-pointers.  The sophomore also hauled in six rebounds.  Kelly and Stone amassed 12 and 11 points respectively while both hauling in three boards.  Caitlyn Dasaro (Fairfield, VT) established a new career-high with 10 rebounds - five each off the offensive and defensive glass - and Reno finished with eight points and a team-best four assists.
 
Nwogu finished with 14 points for the hosts while Harvey totaled 12 and Angie Choi (Cypress, CA) contributed 10 and led all players with five assists.  Berman gobbled up seven boards and Nwogu added six rebounds and a pair of steals for MIT.
 
The two teams shot nearly identical from the field as WPI was at a 36.6% clip (19-for-52) and MIT at 36.2 (17-for-47) but the hosts built separation at the free throw line where they made 16-of-22 attempts (72.7%) while WPI was just 5-of-7 (71.4%).
 
Both squads continue with conference play next Wednesday. WPI tangles with Mount Holyoke in Worcester at 7:30pm while MIT travels to face Wellesley in a 7pm matchup.