Basketball finds its groove too late in loss at WPI

Cal McGonagle sparked a 10-2 run for Mount Holyoke in the fourth quarter of their loss at WPI on Jan. 29, 2025. (RJB Sports file photo)
Cal McGonagle sparked a 10-2 run for Mount Holyoke in the fourth quarter of their loss at WPI on Jan. 29, 2025. (RJB Sports file photo)

WORCESTER, Mass. -- The Mount Holyoke College basketball team came alive in the fourth quarter, outscoring host WPI 18-14 in the period, but it was too late for a comeback as the Lyons fell 64-29 in a NEWMAC game Wednesday night.

WPI (8-10, 1-3 NEWMAC) earned its first NEWMAC win while handing Mount Holyoke (4-14, 0-4 NEWMAC) its fifth straight loss. The Lyons will host MIT on Saturday at 1pm in South Hadley.

Despite junior Alex Twomey (Nutley, N.J.) opening the scoring with a 3-pointer for a 3-0 Lyons lead, Mount Holyoke was outscored 17-5 in the opening quarter, and limited to 11 points through the first three quarters of the game. The host Engineers led by as many as 43 points with 7:22 left, after Femke Jansen made back-to-back threes to make it 56-13.

Senior Cal McGonagle (Yarmouth, Maine) scored two straight baskets for Mount Holyoke, then assisted on a layup by Twomey after Twomey also made a pair of free throws, for an 8-0 Lyons run midway through the fourth that closed the score to 56-21.

Sophomore Sofia Francisco (Boston, Mass.) had two more baskets down the stretch, and Twomey and sophomore Hannah Goen (New London, N.H.) also scored again for the final 64-29 margin.

Twomey led Mount Holyoke with 11 points, with McGonagle adding seven points and seven rebounds and Francisco grabbing a game-high eight rebounds.

Emmy Allyn scored a game-high 15 points for the Engineers, and Caitlyn Dasaro added 14.