WORCESTER -- Amanda Leary (Westbury, NY) and Angie Czeremcha (West Springfield, MA) each registered double-doubles and the Springfield defensive limited WPI to 17.6% shooting from the floor as the Pride went on the road Saturday afternoon and defeated the host Engineers 46-35 inside Harrington Auditorium.
Springfield moves to 12-9 on the season and 4-3 in conference play while WPI dips to 8-13 overall and 1-6 in NEWMAC action.
Springfield struck first on the scoreboard, as Czeremcha delivered a perfect 2-for-2 performance at the free throw line. On the other end, following a turnover, Shannon Reno (Millbury, MA) fought back and sank a jumper to even the momentum. WPI kept the pressure on, with Caitlyn Dasaro (Fairfield, VT) driving hard to the hoop on the next possession and converting a three-point play, giving the Engineers a 5-2 lead with 7:50 remaining in the first quarter.
The Crimson and Grey held an 8-5 edge after two trips to the free throw line, but Springfield closed the gap as Czeremcha knocked down a jumper to make it 8-7 with under three minutes left in the quarter. WPI responded quickly, with Ava Giansiracusa (Wethersfield, CT) drilling a three-pointer and Reno adding a free throw to extend the lead to 12-7 with 1:26 on the clock. To close out the quarter, the Engineers' defense stood strong, denying Springfield on five attempts and maintaining their 12-7 advantage heading into the second frame.
Springfield came out strong to start the second quarter, as Leary knocked down back-to-back shots, while WPI's Megan Stone (Hanson, MA) added a bucket in between, tightening the score to 14-11 with 8:56 left in the quarter. The Engineers struggled from deep early in the frame, missing their first four three-point attempts, but Giansiracusa finally connected at the 5:05 mark, pushing WPI's lead to 19-14. The Pride responded with a surge, capitalizing on three straight possessions to take their first lead since the opening basket, edging ahead 20-19 with 3:12 remaining. WPI answered right back, as Reno buried a clutch three, and Giansiracusa added two free throws, sending the Engineers into halftime with a 24-20 advantage.
Giansiracusa notched nine points for the Engineers in the first half, and added four rebounds, two steals and an assist. Reno contributed six points and an assist, while Dasaro had three points and two blocks. For the Pride, Leary, Claire Finney (Haverhill, MA) and Czeremcha combined for all 20 first half points, with Leary and Finney each tallying eight points. Czeremcha grabbed seven boards, and Finney had a block and an assist.
Springfield came out strong in the third quarter, scoring on its first three possessions, with Czeremcha contributing four points to propel the visitors to a 26-24 lead with 7:46 on the clock. Giansiracusa responded with a flawless trip to the free throw line to knot the score, but Carrie Hess (Shrewsbury, MA) reclaimed the lead for the Pride with a tough layup. WPI answered right back as Emmy Allyn (Rutland, MA) buried a three-pointer, putting the Engineers back on top, 29-28, with 4:39 to play in the quarter. Springfield, however, capitalized at the charity stripe, with Kassidy Carrano (West Haven, CT) converting all four of her free throw attempts to give Springfield a 32-29 advantage heading into the final frame. WPI struggled from the field in the quarter, connecting on just one of 12 shot attempts.
Czeremcha set the tone for the fourth quarter, sinking the first two baskets to extend Springfield's lead to 36-29 with 7:42 remaining. Giansiracusa responded with a pair of free throws to trim the deficit to five for WPI, but Leary knocked down a three-pointer, and Hess followed with a jumper, giving the Pride the first double-digit lead of the game at 41-31 with 3:10 left on the clock. Springfield's defense locked in, stifling WPI's offense and holding them to 0-of-9 shooting in the quarter until Allyn finally broke through with a layup with 2:03 to go. The rest of the quarter saw a steady exchange of free throws, but in the end, the Pride secured a 46-35 victory.
Leary led the Pride with a double-double consisting of 16 points, including eight points in the fourth quarter, and 13 boards. Czeremcha also notched a double-double of her own, with 12 points and 12 rebounds. Finney added eight points and two assists, and Hess contributed six points and six caroms. For the Engineers, Giansiracusa saw double-digit scoring with 13 points and four rebounds. Reno tallied six points and three boards, and Allyn registered five points and two steals.