WPI defeats Wellesley College 64-49

WPI 64, Wellesley 49

Wellesley, MA – Despite Julia Thomas's (Concord, CA) fourth consecutive double-double, Wellesley fell to WPI

64-49. The loss drops the Blue to 4-9 overall, 0-2 in NEWMAC competition. WPI evens its record at 6-6, 1-1 in conference play.

Wellesley jumped out to an early lead, using back-to-back three-pointers from Courtney Richter (Sinking Spring, MD) and Courtney Pelley (Leicester, MA) to take a 6-2 lead. The Engineers tied the score at 6-6 after a steal from Kaileen Selen (Worcester, MA) led to layup from Serena Dubois (Bangor, ME).

The teams traded buckets for several possessions until WPI broke away midway through the period, when Caitlin Macko (Cromwell, CT) and Kate Maki (Fitchburg, MA) combined for six points during an 8-2 run to give the guests a 17-12 lead. Wellesley battled back, trimming the lead to 22-21 at the 2:59 mark, after back-to-back layups from Thomas. But the Engineers closed out the half with a 7-1 run, including a trey from Macko, taking a 29-23 lead into the break.

WPI opened the second half with a 6-2 run, as Maki scored six straight points. Jessica Duff (Milton, Abingdon, UK) trimmed the lead to 35-27 with a layup at the 18:01 mark. But the Engineers answered with five consecutive buckets from three-point land, two each from Mako and Selen, and one from Natasha Deschene (Presque Isle, ME), breaking the game open at 50-29. Wellesley went on a 13-5 run, cutting the lead to 54-42 with five minutes remaining, but WPI tightened its defense and coasted to a 64-49 win.

Macko led WPI with 15 points, including four of eight from beyond the three-point line. Maki and Selen added 12 points each in the win, while Dubois chipped in 10. Brittany McNally (Burrillville, RI) pulled down nine rebounds to lead the Engineers, while Selen tallied seven boards and six steals.

Duff led the Blue with 13 points and eight rebounds, while Thomas added 12 points and 10 boards. Richter and Pelley rounded out the Wellesley offense with 12 and 10 points, respectively. Katie Martore (Great Falls, VA) notched six assists and five steals in the loss.

Wellesley returns to action on Wednesday, January 16, when it travels to MIT for a 7:00 game. WPI will take the court at 7:00 on Wednesday as well, with a game at Wheaton College.

Release courtesy of Wellesley Sports Information

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