WPI 66, Babson 50 

Worcester, MA --- The WPI women's basketball team forced a four-way tie for first place in the NEWMAC on Wednesday night, as the Engineers handed Babson its first conference loss in a 66-50 battle at Harrington Auditorium.

Paced by sophomore guard Caitlin Macko's (Cromwell, CT) season-high 18 points, the Crimson and Gray won its fourth consecutive game and ninth out of their last 10 to improve to 12-5 overall and 5-1 in the NEWMAC. Babson dropped to 9-8 overall and 5-1 in conference play.

Mount Holyoke and Wheaton, both of whom are also 5-1 in the NEWMAC, were idle on Wednesday. WPI and Mount Holyoke will play for a share of first place here on Saturday.

WPI took control early in the contest. Babson held a 4-2 lead a minute into the game before Macko ripped a 3-pointer from the corner to give the Engineers the lead for good. WPI got the lead out to 11-5 following six straight points by Meghan Pajonas (Bristol, CT), and eventually held a 13-point lead following another Macko trifecta with 3:35 remaining in the first half.

The Beavers cut the lead to seven points over the next 1:45 with a 6-0 run, as Rachel Pelletier (Harwington, CT) hit back-to-back jumpers, and Caitlin Boulier (Wolcott, CT) hit another jumper to make it 33-26 but Babson would not get any closer.

Babson's resiliency midway through the second half kept the WPI lead between 10-12 points, before Rachel Salvatori's (Williston, VT) 3-pointer with 12:41 remaining sparked a 12-4 run.

Pajonas scored 17 points to go along with seven rebounds, while Karen Krasko (North Branford, CT) added eight points and seven rebounds.

For the Beavers, Boulier led the team with 18 points, while Colleen Burke (Pittsfield, MA) scored 12 points. Becky Berg (West Brookfield, MA) came off the bench with a game-high eight rebounds.

WPI will close out a three-game homestand on Saturday by hosting Mount Holyoke at 2pm.  The WPI coaching and game management staffs will be wearing pink to help the WCBA unify in a show of support for those who are battling cancer.  All fans are encouraged to "Think Pink" on Saturday.  Babson also plays on Saturday, hosting Clark at 2pm.