WPI Downs Basketball, 44-33

Game Statistics

WORCESTER, Mass. (Jan. 31, 2009) – Sophomore guard Elle Fontaine registered game highs of 14 points and 12 rebounds to boost the WPI women’s basketball team to a 44-33 win over New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) foe Mount Holyoke College this afternoon at Harrington Auditorium. It was the Engineers second straight win over the Lyons.

WPI shot 36.4% (20-55) from the floor and drained three shots from beyond the arc. The Engineers scored 23 points off 26 Mount Holyoke turnovers. Fontaine was joined in double digits by senior guard Natasha Deschene, who finished with ten points and six steals. Junior forward Serena Dubois finished with six points and six boards, while sophomore guard Melissa Kuhn added seven points.

Mount Holyoke was paced by junior guard Erin Cain, who collected 11 points, nine rebounds and three assists. First year forward Emma Washauer and junior center Kate Shafir chipped in with six points apiece. The Lyons, who had captured victories in each of their previous three outings, ended the day with a 34-32 edged on the glass.

WPI (15-5, 7-1 NEWMAC) never trailed in the game and led by as many as 18 points (44-26) in the waning minutes.

Fontaine scored three straight baskets to give the Engineers an 11-4 advantage just over five minutes into the contest. A jumper by Washauer sliced the deficit to 11-8, but Kuhn exploded for the next seven points to push the margin to 18-8 at the 8:14 mark. WPI took a 25-16 lead into the locker room. Fontaine notched nine of her 14 points before the break.

WPI pulled away with a 6-0 run in the early stages of the second stanza. Following junior guard Kaileen Selen’s rally capping layin at the 16:53 mark, the guests led 31-18. The cushion ballooned to 44-26 after a trey by Fontaine with 5:50 remaining in the contest. Deschene and Dubois registered six points apiece in the second half. Cain had seven for the Lyons.

Mount Holyoke (6-13, 3-4 NEWMAC) will resume league play on Wednesday evening at Clark University. Tip-off is slated for 7:00 p.m.