WELLESLEY, Mass. – Wellesley College basketball dropped a home NEWMAC game to MIT, 59-52, on Pride Night at Dorothy Towne Fieldhouse on Wednesday.

The Engineers (8-10 Overall, 4-0 NEWMAC) were led by a 17-point, nine rebound effort from senior Kamsi Nwogu (Algonquin, Ill.). Senior Angie Choi (Cypress, Calif.) scored 14 points, while junior Kaya Weiser (Villanova, Pa.) also reached double figures with 10 points. 

First-year Ava Shane (Plano, Texas) finished with 14 points and five boards to lead the Blue (6-11 overall, 1-3 NEWMAC). Sophomore Mirella Funari (Phoenix, Ariz.) contributed nine points, six assists and six steals. Classmate Trinity Barrow (Evans, Ga.) tallied 10 points, four assists and three steals. 

MIT hit back-to-back three-pointers to begin the game, but Wellesley outscored the Engineers 14-4 for the final eight minutes to lead 14-10 after a quarter. Wellesley's Shane went 4-for-7 for nine points in the frame. 

The visitors opened the second with a 5-0 spurt to regain the lead. MIT also ended the quarter with a 5-0 run to take a 22-19 lead at the half. Nwogu finished the first 20 minutes with seven points for MIT. 

The Blue trailed as much as 11, midway through the third, but battled back to pull within one at 38-37. Wellesley had four buckets in the quarter but went 9-of-12 from the free throw line. MIT made three treys to help key the run early in the stanza. 

Wellesley took a 41-40 lead after a Shane layup, 2:48 into the fourth quarter. MIT answered with three straight layups in the next 1:34 for a 46-41 advantage. After a long ball from senior Caitlin Windross (Eastvale, Calif.) cut the Blue deficit to 46-44, MIT created separation with a 9-0 run for a 55-44 lead. Wellesley was able to pull within six, but MIT made some free throws down the stretch to secure the victory. 

Each team is on the road for a NEWMAC matchup at 1:00 PM on Saturday, February 1. Wellesley plays at Coast Guard Academy while MIT travels to Mount Holyoke College.