O'Connor's 23 Lead Women's Basketball to 88-57 Win Over Thomas

WPI 88, Thomas 57

Worcester, MA --- Caitlin O'Connor (New Hampton, NH) poured in a career-high 23 points to lead WPI to a 88-57 victory over visiting Thomas (ME) on Tuesday evening. The win evens the Engineers' record at 2-2 on the season, while Thomas falls to 0-4.

The Engineers' 88 points equal the most a WPI team has scored in a game in the last five seasons, tying last year's squad's 88-point effort vs. Sage at the Land of Magic Classic in Florida. WPI netted 91 points five seasons ago vs. Cal Tech in the Consolation game of the Cal Tech Tournament.

Thomas was able to stay with the Crimson and Gray early on, as the teams battled to an 8-8 tie in the first five minutes before WPI embarked on a 15-2 run to take control. O'Connor scored five points during the spurt that gave the Engineers a 23-10 lead.

WPI continued to lead by 13 at 32-19 with 5:19 to go in the half, but put the game away shortly thereafter by closing out the half on a 19-5 run to take a 51-24 lead into the break. Melissa Kuhn (Stoughton, MA) and Elle Fontaine (Franklin, MA) hit back-to-back threes to start the run, during which O'Connor and fellow first-year player Theresa Logan (Southboro, MA) each had four points.

The two teams played a back-and-forth second half, with Thomas cutting the lead to 25 early in the frame but was unable to get any closer.

O'Connor was one of four Engineers in double-figures on a night when 10 different players dented the scoring column. Fontaine registered her fifth career double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds while Logan picked up her first, scoring 13 points and grabbing 10 boards.

Logan's 13 points were also a career-high. Kuhn dropped in 12 points, while Mari Freitas (Easton, MA) and Cindy Chelius (Northfield, NJ) each recorded eight points and five rebounds.

Kellie Martel (Cambridge, ME) and Karin Bird (Lee, ME) were each in double-figures for Thomas, scoring 16 and 15 points respectively. Jessica Nassetta (Standish, ME) picked up eight points for the visitors, while Bird paced the Terriers with eight rebounds.

WPI shot 50% for the game and outrebounded Thomas 53-31. The Engineers enjoyed a 55-7 edge in scoring off the bench.

Both squads are off until after the Thanksgiving holiday. WPI ventures to Schenectady, NY on Sunday for 2pm contest against Union. Thomas next heads to St. Joseph's (ME) a week from Wednesday (December 2nd) for a 5:30pm match versus the Monks.

Story by Ray Cotrufo - WPI Athletics

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