SOUTH HADLEY, MASS. – MIT got points from every player in the lineup, including a game-best 12 from sophomore Taylor V'Dovec, to lead the Engineers past Mount Holyoke College, 65-21, in New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) action Saturday afternoon. MIT improves to 5-1 overall and 2-0 in conference, while MHC is now 2-5 overall and 0-2 in the NEWMAC.
V'Dovec's (Blaine, Wash./Blaine) also added seven rebounds in just 12 minutes of action. Senior guard Liana Ilutzi (East Hanover, N.J./Hanover Park) also had a strong game with nine points on 3-of-5 shooting, while also notching a game-high six assists. Off the bench, sophomore forward Sophie Gershon (New York, N.Y./Stuyvesant) posted six points and six boards.
For the Lyons, first year guard Katlyn Grover (Bernardstown, Mass./Stoneleigh Burnham School) led the way with seven points and two steals, while classmate and fellow guard Kathryn Violette (Yokosuka City, Japan/Yokohama International School) had four points, five rebounds, and three assists. Senior forward and captain Xajaah Williams-Flores (The Bronx, N.Y./Holderness School) also turned in a strong game off the glass securing nine rebounds.
The Engineers ended the first quarter on an 8-0 run to give MIT an 18-point (24-60) advantage heading into the second quarter. Junior guard Genisis DiCarlo (Sullivan, Maine/Sumner Memorial) connected on a jumper for the Lyons with 8:36 to go in the frame to stop the run.
After a Gershon layup, sophomore guard Zahkeyah Allen (Philadelphia, Penn./Freire Charter School) sparked a 5-0 run for the Lyons with a layup, that was culminated by a Grover three with 3:34 to go in the quarter. MIT ended the frame with four straight points to send the game into halftime with a score of, 37-13.
Heading into the fourth quarter with MIT holding a 52-14 lead, Mount Holyoke scored on two straight possessions behind jumpers from Williams-Flores and Violette. The Engineers went on a 9-0 run, that came to an end on another Violette bucket with 1:27 to cut the lead to 65-20. Junior guard Peyton Burr (Fayston, Vt./Harwood Union) knocked down a free throw with :53 remaining in the game.
Both teams return to NEWMAC action on Wednesday as Mount Holyoke hosts Springfield, while MIT welcomes Wheaton. Action for both contests begins at 7:00pm.
