WPI 55, Wheaton 50 

Norton, MA -- The Wheaton College women's basketball team had the first opportunity at its inaugural New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) regular season championship denied by visiting Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) on Senior Day in Emerson Gymnasium, as the Engineers forged a tie atop the conference standings following their 55-50 victory Saturday afternoon.

Wheaton, which lost for just the second time in 14 games, saw its overall record fall to 16-7 and conference mark to 9-2, while the Engineers improved to 16-6 and 9-2. Winners in 13 of their last 15 games, the Engineers are now 14-1 when holding opponents to 52 points or fewer.

In a tightly-contested first half that saw each team start the game shooting 4-of-10 for a 9-9 deadlock through 8:33, Wheaton controlled the boards early with a 10-2 advantage, including a key offensive board by freshman Jenny Champney (Bedford, MA) at 11:25 while getting fouled. Two ensuing Champney free throws gave the hosts an 11-9 edge. Five straight WPI points, capped by a three from freshman Kaileen Selen (Worcester, MA) at 9:48, provided the Engineers with a three-point edge.

Wheaton responded with six points in succession to take a 17-14 lead at 5:57 before WPI went on an offensive tear, outscoring the Lyons, 15-4 during a 4:15 span. A 5-of-5 stretch and two free throws highlighted the Engineer run, as senior Meghan Pajonas (Bristol, CT) scored eight points. Junior Kate Maki (Fitchburg, MA) also drained a three, and Selen finished the first-half scoring on a lay-up with 25 ticks left to give the visitors a 29-21 halftime lead. WPI forced 12 Wheaton turnovers while committing just six.

WPI began the second half by making four of its first five buckets en route to a 39-29 advantage at 13:39. Wheaton sophomore Krystin Hickey (Manchester, NH)) provided the Lyons with an offensive boost with back-to-back baskets, but the Engineers rattled off eight unanswered to capture their largest advantage at 47-33 with just under nine minutes to play. Back-to-back Hickey jumpers 35 seconds apart helped Wheaton claw back to 49-43 at 4:36, and the Lyons eventually got as close as 53-50 on a lay-up from senior Casey Sorbara (Port Chester, NY) with 56 seconds remaining.

Wheaton fouled on the next possession and, following a WPI miss from the free throw line, the Lyons were unable to pull down the rebound. The Lyons fouled again, this time watching sophomore Karen Krasko (North Branford, CT) hit the first freebie before missing the second. The Engineers once again retained possession on the rebound, eventually hitting another free throw to take a 55-50 edge with 32 seconds left. Wheaton missed shots on its final two possessions, including a lay-up with two seconds remaining.

Hickey was Wheaton's lone double-figure scorer with 12 points, making 6-of-10 shots from the floor, while junior Becky Aitchison (Norwalk, CT) finished with nine points, six rebounds, four assists and four steals. Champney came close to a double-double with seven points and eight rebounds in 18 minutes.

WPI shot 52.4 percent from the floor for the game, including an outstanding 64.7 percent in the second half, as Pajonas led all scorers with 18 points on 7-of-11 shooting with eight rebounds. Selen added 12 points, five boards and three assists, while sophomore Natasha Deschene (Presque Isle, ME) had five helpers.

The Lyons play their final two conference games of the season on the road, beginning on Wednesday night at the United States Coast Guard Academy at 7:00 p.m. Wheaton concludes the regular season one week from today in Springfield at 3:00 p.m. WPI will travel to Babson on Tuesday for a key NEWMAC contest.

Release courtesy Wheaton Sports Information