Slow Second-Half Start Dooms Wellesley Basketball in 71-52 Loss at WPI

Trailing 26-24 in the waning moments of the first half, WPI used a 3-pointer from Elle Fontaine (Franklin, MA) and a layup by Melissa Kuhn (Stoughton, MA) to take a 29-26 advantage into the locker room at the break.  The Engineers then connected on 7-of-12 shots from the floor in the opening nine minutes of the second stanza as the Crimson and Gray opened a 49-26 lead.  During the run, the WPI defense held the Blue to 0-for-9 shooting while forcing eight turnovers.

Fontaine and Lauren Hannmann (East Greenbush, NY) led four WPI players in double figures with 16 points each.  Hannmann nailed 7-of-11 shots from the floor while Fontaine led all players with nine rebounds to go along with three assists, four steals and three blocks.  Melissa Kuhn (Stoughton, MA) added 12 points and a game-best five assists while Charlotte McDonnell (Swansea, MA) chipped in with a career-high 11 points and seven rebounds.

Becca Kimball (Weston, MA) paced the Wellesley effort with 14 points, including 12 in the second half, while draining all six of her free throw attempts.  Malia Maier (Torrance, CA) aided the Blue cause with nine points, four assists and five steals while Laura Barrett (Dobbs Ferry, NY) and KD Stearns (Eustis, FL) each tossed in six points.

WPI is back on the court on Wednesday with a 7:00pm road contest at MIT.  The Blue return to action on Wednesday, January 20th at home against Wheaton at 7:00pm.  Wellesley will be joined by special guest Madeleine Korbel Albright '59, as the Blue host A Community Celebration: Sports Achievement for Girls and Women.