Wheaton 58, WPI 53 

Worcester, MA --- Krystin's Hickey's (Manchester, NH) 3-pointer from the top of the key with 2:30 remaining gave visiting Wheaton College the lead for good, as it defeated WPI, 58-53, to snap the hosts' five-game winning streak in a NEWMAC contest at Harrington Auditorium on Thursday evening.

After Kate Maki (Fitchburg, MA) put WPI ahead 53-49, the Engineers (8-5 overall, 1-1 conference) were unable to hit a shot as the Lyons (8-5, 3-0) forced four missed field goal attempts and caused three turnovers in the final 3:25. Hickey rattled off five straight points including a pair of free throws and the decisive 3-pointer to give the Lyons a lead they would not relinquish.

WPI had controlled the latter portion of the second stanza until Hickey's trifecta. After an eight-minute span of not hitting a field goal, the Engineers went on a 9-2 run, with Caitlin Macko (Cromwell, CT) hitting a pair of shots to start the run. One trip later, Maki then went the roundabout route to the hole to lay it in, giving WPI a 46-45 lead with 7:54 remaining.

WPI held a 28-19 lead with 3:26 remaining in the first half before Wheaton embarked on a 9-2 run to close the half and cut the Engineers lead to two points, 30-28. Kim McCormack (Milton, MA) began the streak with a trey.

Both teams were scrappy to start the second half, as both teams kept the conference tilt close until the Lyons took advantage of WPI's ineffective shooting from the field. Wheaton would get out to a 43-38 lead following Bri Smith's (Westford, MA) 3-pointer with just over 10 minutes remaining, before Meghan Pajonas (Bristol, CT) hit a short jumper on a pass from Michelle Perry (Pelham, NH) to thaw out WPI's cold shooting.

Hickey paced all scorers with 23 points. McCormack added seven points and a game-best four assists for the Lyons while Becky Aitchison (Norwalk, CT), Jennie Pleat (Nashua, NH) and Jenny Champney (Bedford, MA) all netted six points.

Pajonas led the Engineers with 19 points to go along with nine rebounds. Freshman Kaileen Selen (Worcester, MA) chipped in with nine points and a game-high three steals.

Both teams return to action on Saturday afternoon conference contests. WPI is at MIT at 1pm while Wheaton travels to Mount Holyoke for a 2pm match-up.