Offensive Explosion Powers Wellesley Over MIT, 98-56
WELLESLEY, Mass. – Hitting 60% from the field and 85% from the line, Wellesley basketball shot its way to a 98-56 win over MIT this evening at Keohane Sports Center. Tonight's game marks the Blue's best offensive performance since scoring 101 in a win over Bryn Mawr in 1999. The victory lifts the Blue to 6-4 overall, 1-2 in the NEWMAC. MIT falls to 4-8 on the season, 0-2 in conference play.
After falling behind 3-2 in the opening seconds of the game, the Blue went on a 21-5 run to open a 16 point-lead with 12:30 remaining in the half. The Blue used a strong inside game to push the lead to 33-7, asJessica Duff (Milton, Abingdon, UK), Julia Thomas (Concord, Calif.), and KD Stearns (Eustis, Fla.) combined for 23 points midway through the period.
Clara Yuan (San Jose, Calif.) ended a seven-minute drought for the Engineers with a three pointer at the 9:20 mark. MIT then trimmed the lead to 40-20, courtesy of hot shooting from Yuan (7-14 for 17 points in the first half), as they threatened to climb back into the game with a 13-7 run. But the Blue held off the charge and took a 51-34 edge into the locker room.
Wellesley opened the second period quickly, as Thomas drained a freethrow and a layup to stretch the lead back to 20. After an MIT jumper, three straight baskets for Wellesley pushed the lead to 60-36 with 12:30 left. The Blue then went on a 15-9 to break the game open, taking a 75-45 lead at the 8:00 mark. Despite strong second-half performances from MIT's Jamie Simmons (Carslbad, Calif.) and Sally Simpson (Minneapolis, Minn.), Wellesley continued to extend its lead, cruising to the 98-56 win.
Yuan led the visitors with 17 points. Simmons added 13 points and four assists, while Simpson chipped in 10 points and two steals. Cheryl Kwinn (Monroe, N.Y.) led the Engineers on the boards, tallying seven rebounds.
Duff led the Blue with a double-double, tallying 22 points and 15 boards. The Blue also received solid outings from three first-years, as Stearns notched a career-high 18 points and two steals, while Robyn Burleson (Seattle, Wash.) added 13 points, and Elisha Orama (Miramar, Fla.) chipped in eight points, four assists and two steals. The Blue out-rebounded the Engineers 51-26, with seniors Thomas and Courtney Richter (Sinking Springs, Pa.) adding eight and six boards to Duff's 15. Wellesley also tallied a remarkable 25 assists, including four from Nicole Labbe (Florence, Mass.) and Laura Barrett (Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.), and three from Katie Martore (Great Falls, Va.).
MIT and Wellesley return to action this weekend, when both host NEWMAC opponents on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. MIT will face Babson College, while Wellesley will square off against Coast Guard.