Worcester, MA --- Dani Davis (East Granby, CT) scored 15 of her game-best 19 points in the first half as WPI defeated visiting Mount Holyoke, 75-38, in a NEWMAC women's basketball matchup on Tuesday night in Harrington Auditorium.
The Engineers (10-4, 3-2 NEWMAC) snap a two-game skid while stalling Mount Holyoke's (4-9, 1-3 NEWMAC) two-game winning-streak.
Davis was joined in double-digit scoring by Ama Biney (Worcester, MA) with 14 as Amaia Gritsko (Milford, CT) added 10 and a team-high seven rebounds. Madison Beck (Manlius, NY) pitched in with 10 second-half points for a new career game-high.
The Lyons were led by Kate Karraker (Morgantown, WV) with 14 points followed by Amber Legare (Chicopee, MA) with 11 to go along with three blocks. Nicole DeMarchena (Miami, FL) hauled in a game-high eight boards while Legare and Genelle Green (Windsor, CT) pulled down seven each.
Mount Holyoke took the initial lead just 28 seconds into the contest. Eleven seconds later Jessica Larsen (Poway, CA) began an 11-0 run for the Crimson and Gray. Legare, the reigning NEWMAC Co-Player of the Week, halted the outburst with a jumper as 15:28 displayed on the scoreboard.
With just under 14 minutes until the break, Biney gave the hosts a double-digit cushion with a 3-pointer from the baseline. WPI continued to pull away and held as much as a 24-point lead three times in the last 5:15 behind a layup by Gritsko and a bucket, and later two free throws, by Davis for the 38-14 halftime score.
The Engineers shot 40 percent from the field and only committed two turnovers while Mount Holyoke was silent from beyond the arc (0-8) and at the charity stripe (0-4) in the first 20 minutes.
WPI's advantage ballooned to 33 before Karraker and DeMarchina used a 3-pointer and layup to get within 28 midway through the second half. The Crimson and Gray pushed out to a 40-point advantage before Mount Holyoke cut the deficit to 34 with 1:32 to play.
The hosts held margins in the paint (30-12), off turnovers (23-4), second chance points (15-10) and bench points (35-6) while scoring all 16 fast break points.
Both teams are in the midst of three-game weeks and play again Thursday at 7pm. WPI heads to Babson while Mount Holyoke hosts Smith, also at 7pm.
Game story courtesy of WPI Sports Information.
