WPI 61, Smith 44
Box
Score
Worcester, MA --- Elle Fontaine (Franklin, MA)
poured in a game-best 19 points to lift visiting WPI to a 61-44
triumph over Smith in NEWMAC women's basketball action on Wednesday
evening.
The victory, coupled with Babson's 69-50 road win at Wheaton,
moves the Engineers (12-6 overall) into a second place tie with the
Lyons at 8-3. Smith dips to 9-7 on the season and 6-5 in
NEWMAC play.
WPI broke open a tightly contested first half that featured
eight lead changes and five ties with a 16-2 spurt over the last
4:05 of the stanza to turn a 17-15 deficit into a 31-19 halftime
advantage. The Crimson and Gray then used a nearly
nine-minute frame midway through the second half that it held Smith
without a field goal that kept the Pioneers at bay.
Fontaine grabbed 10 rebounds en route to posting her fifth
double-double of the season and ninth of her career. The
junior netted 13 of her 19 points in the first half.
Senior Brittany McNally (Mapleville, RI)
equaled her career-high with 10 boards while the freshmen duo of
Theresa Logan (Southboro, MA) and Caitlin
O'Connor (New Hampton, NH) added 12 and 10 points
respectively. Sophomore point guard Baillie
McNally (Mapleville, RI) led all players with five
assists.
WPI distinguished itself at the free throw line, connecting on
an impressive 86.2% (19-of-22) of its attempts from the charity
stripe.
Berit Schelde (Holstebro, Denmark) and
Daron Dean (Brush Prairie, WA) both tallied eight
points for Smith while Ashani Petrizzi (Deerfield,
MA) hauled in a team-best nine boards.
WPI hosts city rival Clark on Saturday at 3pm. Smith
is also back in action on Saturday, entertaining conference
unbeaten Babson at 2pm.