WPI 65, Mount Ida 46 

Newton, MA --- Senior forward Meghan Pajonas (Bristol, CT) recorded 19 points, nine rebounds and five steals to spark the WPI women's basketball team to a 65-46 victory over non-conference foe Mount Ida College this evening at the Mount Ida Athletic Center. With the win, the Engineers improved to 3-1 on the year. Mount Ida dropped to 2-2.

Pajonas netted 8-of-14 shots from the field and 3-of-4 from the free throw stripe, as WPI found the win column for the third consecutive time. The Engineers also received a solid effort from freshman guard Kaileen Selen (Worcester, MA), who finished with nine points. Junior forward Amber Dangelo (West Kingston, RI) tallied a career-best eight points, while sophomore guard Natasha Deschene (Presque Isle, ME) chipped in with a game-high four assists and four steals.

Mount Ida was paced by senior forward Adrienne Xenos (Brockton, MA), who scored ten of her 12 points in the second half. The forward collected 11 boards to complete her second-straight double-double and 14th of her career. Sophomore forward Lauren Hickey (Enosburg Falls, VT) knocked down a pair of three-pointers on her way to eight points, while freshman guard Crystal Burgess (Lowell, MA) tallied nine points. Senior forward Danielle Ring (Leicester, MA) rounded things out with a ten-rebound performance for the Mustangs.

WPI limited the hosts to just 21.7% (5-23) shooting in the first half, as it built a 24-14 advantage. After a Burgess trifecta put Mount Ida in front 5-2 at the 18:11 mark of the opening frame, the Engineers scored the game's next ten points over a nine minute span to open up a 12-5 edge. They led my as many as 12 points before the intermission.

A pair of Pajonas free-throws gave WPI a 16-point (34-18) cushion just under four minutes into the second stanza. The Mustangs answered with a 7-0 run, capped off by a Hickey three-pointer, to slice the deficit to nine points (34-25) with 13:53 remaining in regulation. Hickey nailed another three-ball just over three minutes later to bring Mount Ida to within six points (40-34).

From there, it was all Engineers. The guests outscored Mount Ida 25-12 over the contest's final ten minutes to secure the victory. They led by as many as 21 points in the closing minutes.

Mount Ida (2-2, 0-0 NAC) opens up its North Atlantic Conference schedule at home versus Husson College on Friday beginning at 6:00 p.m. The Mustangs will also host a league tilt on Saturday at 2:00 p.m., when the Maine Maritime Academy comes to the Athletic Center. WPI (3-1, 0-0 NEWMAC) returns to action on Saturday, when it welcomes Fitchburg State College for a non-conference contest beginning at 2:00pm.

Release Courtesy of Mount Ida Sports Information