WPI Holds Off Wellesley, 45-41

With stifling defense from both squads in the opening minutes of the game, neither team gained an advantage until a four-point run from Wellesley gave the Blue a 13-9 edge at the 11:30 mark.  A break-away transition layup from Becca Kimball (Weston, MA) pushed the lead to six midway through the period, but WPI answered with a three-pointer from Elle Fontaine (Franklin, MA) and a steal and layup from Melissa Kuhn (Stoughton, MA) to cut the lead to 15-14 with 8:01 left in the half. 

Two free throws from Fontaine gave WPI a one-point edge before Wellesley used a five-point run, including a put-back from KD Stearns (Eustis, FL), to retake the lead at 20-16.  But the Engineers outscored the Blue 9-1 in the final minutes of the period, including a trey from Lauren Hannmann (East Greenbush, NY) and five points from Fontaine, to send the teams to the locker room with the visitors holding a 25-21 lead.

The Engineers opened the second half with back-to-back buckets in route to a 14-3 run that yielded a 39-24 lead with 12:05 left in the game.  A put-back by Stearns cut into the WPI lead, but two free throws from Caitlin O'Connor (New Hampton, NH) quickly stretched the advantage back to 41-26.

Wellesley put together a string of points, including six from Stearns, to narrow the gap to 41-34 with 7:25 on the clock.  A driving lay-up from Kuhn broke the Blue string, but Wellesley stayed close with a steal from Katie Martore (Great Falls, VA) and a lay-up from Kimball to keep the lead at seven, 43-36.  The Blue inched closer, cutting the lead to 44-30 with a lay-up from Ashleigh Sargent (Bedford, NH) with 1:26 remaining.  A free throw from Stearns cut the lead to three, but Wellesley could get no closer as the Engineers held on for a 45-41 win.

WPI was led by Fontaine who scored 14 points with eight boards and four steals. Hannmann tallied 11 points, while Kuhn added seven points and five steals. Also for the Engineers, Baillie McNally (Mapleville, RI) recorded four steals.

Wellesley was paced by Stearn's game-high 14 points, eight rebounds, while Kimball picked up nine points and seven boards. Sargent scored eight with six rebounds, while Malia Maier (Torrance, CA) dished out five assists and Martore added four.

Both squads return to action Wednesday, February 17, at 7:30 p.m., when WPI hosts MIT and Wellesley travels to Wheaton.