SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. – The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) saw four players reach double-figures as the Engineers posted a 52-36 victory over Mount Holyoke College on Saturday in New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) action. With the win, MIT moves to 8-11 overall and 5-9 in conference play, while the Lyons slip to 5-15 and 2-13 in the NEWMAC.
MIT made a statement early, opening up the contest with a 9-0 lead, powered by a pair of buckets from sophomore forward Maya Ramachandran (Fremont, Calif./Mission San Jose) and five points from junior guard Mari Kordell (Ijamsville, Md./Urbana). The Lyons finally got on the board as junior forward Amber Legare (Chicopee, Mass./Chicopee Comprehensive) dropped in a shot, but the Engineers continued to roll, taking a 12 point lead (15-3) through the first seven minutes of the game.
A pair of free throws from junior captain Kate Karraker (Morgantown, W.V./Taft School (Conn.) cut the deficit to 17-7, but a consistent effort from Ramachandran boosted the visitors lead to 15 points (28-13) with two minutes to play. Legare, who had 11 first half points, nailed eight buckets down the final stretch of the half as the teams headed into the intermission with MIT leading 28-15.
The second half saw the Lyons pace their way back into the contest as junior forward Nicole DeMarchena (Miami, Fla./Amherst Regional (Mass.) sank a pair of free throws and Legare dropped in a shot from inside to cut the Engineers' lead down to eight (30-22) with 13:52 to play. Despite the momentum, MHC could not hold the visitors off as MIT quickly worked to regain a 14 point (38-24) advantage behind a jumper from senior Rachel Hunt (Arlington Heights, Ill./Prospect) with 9:00 to play.
A layup by sophomore guard Genelle Green (Windsor, Conn./Miss Porter's School) dropped the lead back to 40-28 for the Engineers, but MIT proved too touch down the stretch, going on an 8-0 run beginning at the 4:45 mark to grab a 50-30 advantage with 3:42 to play.
Layup's over the final two minutes for MHC came from senior Jennine Vizcaino (New York, N.Y./Northfield Mount Hermon (Mass.), Legare and Green, but it wasn't enough to close the gap further.
Ramachandran posted 12 points and eight rebounds for MIT, adding three assists, two blocks and four steals. Kordell also added 12 points with five boards, an assist and two steals, while sophomore Sabrina Drammis (Hilton Head Island, S.C./Hilton Head Island) had 10 points and a game-best 15 rebounds. Hunt also chipped in with 10 points for the Engineers.
For Mount Holyoke, Legare boasted a game-best 19 points to go along with 11 rebounds for her 10th double-double of the season. Karraker chipped in seven points, while DeMarchena added four points, eight boards, three assists and two blocks.
MHC hosts Babson next Saturday at 1pm, while MIT plays Wednesday, hosting Wellesley at 7pm.
