Babson 68, WPI 58

Box Score      

Babson Park, MA --- Sophomore Michelle Kenel (Rockaway Beach, NJ) and junior captain Becky Bowman (Melrose, MA) each scored five points during a pivotal 10-0 second-half run as the Babson College women's basketball team defeated visiting WPI, 68-58, in a battle of NEWMAC unbeatens on Friday night. With their seventh win in eight games, the Beavers improved to 7-2 overall and 4-0 in the conference, while the Engineers fell to 6-3 overall and 3-1 in the NEWMAC. 

Kenel and first-year Sarah Collins (Weymouth, MA) each scored 12 points off the bench to pace Babson, while Collins also added nine rebounds and three steals. Bowman finished with 11 points in the win, first-year Allanah Wynn (Quincy, MA) contributed 10 points and four assists, and sophomore Nicki Wurdeman (Rowley, MA) chipped in with eight points and game-high 12 rebounds. Also turning in stellar performances off the bench for the Beavers were junior Damasi Adewumi (Bronx, NY), who recorded six points and six rebounds, and first-year Jessica Aruda (Hanover, MA), who dished out a game-high six assists. 

WPI was led by junior captain Melissa Kuhn (Stoughton, MA), who tallied 19 points, four rebounds, four assists, two blocks, and two steals in defeat. Junior captain Elle Fontaine (Franklin, MA) added 12 points for the Engineers, while sophomore Lauren Hannmann (East Greenbush, NY) contributed eight points. First-year Theresa Logan (Southboro, MA) added six points and seven boards, and senior captain Brittany McNally (Mapleville, RI) collected six rebounds and three steals.

The two teams battled neck-and-neck for most of the first half, which featured eight ties and eight lead changes. Neither lead led by more than four until the closing minutes, however, when Babson scored six straight points to take a 30-24 advantage into the break. Collins led Babson with seven points and six rebounds in the opening stanza, while Kuhn netted seven points and dished out three assists for WPI.

Babson maintained its advantage for the first nine minutes of the second half, including seven-point leads at 34-27 and 36-29. The Engineers eventually jumped in front, 44-42, on back-to-back lay-ups and a free throw by Kuhn with 11:17 remaining, and the two squads would take turns taking the lead over the next five and a half minutes. 

The Beavers finally took control of the contest with a key 10-0 run during a two-minute stretch late in the period, fueled by five points apiece by Kenel and Bowman. With Babson trailing 52-50 with 5:39 left, Kenel knocked down a jumper from the left baseline to tie the contest and then drained a three-pointer from the left elbow to put her team in front, 55-52. Bowman followed with a breakaway lay-up off a steal by sophomore Kathleen King (Framingham, MA) to push Babson's lead to seven before knocking down a three of her own from the right corner to give the hosts a 60-52 advantage with 3:14 left. Aruda also came up big during the run, dishing out three of her six assists. 

After Fontaine hit one of two from the free throw line to bring WPI back to within seven, Babson rattled off five straight points to go up 12 at 65-53. Fontaine would drain a three-pointer and add two free throws in the final 45 seconds to keep the Engineers within striking distance, but the Beavers hit three of their final four free throws to secure the 68-58 victory.

WPI is off until Wednesday, December 30th when they host Johnson & Wales.

Release Courtesy Babson Sports Information