Fontaine and Brittney McNally Power Women's Basketball's Past Smith

WPI 61, Smith 44

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.

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