WORCESTER -- Melanie Presseau (Manchester, NH) poured in 14 of her career-high 16 points in a third quarter as the WPI women's basketball team kicked off the 2019-2020 season with a 54-41 victory over Clark in an opening round game of the 39th annual Worcester City Tournament hosted by Worcester State. 

The Engineers, who in  search of their sixth straight tournament title, will face the host Lancers Sunday at 7pm in the championship game.  Clark will face Becker at 5pm in the consolation match-up. 

WPI never trailed and led 21-17 at the half before Presseau led a third quarter offensive explosion that saw the sophomore single handily outscore the Cougars as the Crimson and Gray outscored their NEWMAC foes 24-13.  The guard canned 5-of-7 shots for the floor in the session, including 4-of-5 from downtown. 

Presseau was the only Engineer in double digits in scoring as seniors Spencer Vinson (Los Angeles, CA) and Alana Keating (Leominster, MA) each added seven points. Vinson led all players with 11 rebounds to go along with two blocks and a pair of steals.  Presseau also excelled on the defensive end, adding four steals while Sara Lyons (Pittsford, NY) chipped in with two steals and a pair of assists. 

WPI held Clark to 23.7% shooting from the floor, forced 23 turnovers and outrebounded the Cougars 54-40.  Maddie Blake (Bedford, NH) and Alex Scariati (Scotch Plains, NJ) aided the Boynton Hillers on the glass with seven rebounds apiece.   

Hannah Favaloro (Blackstone, MA) logged her 11th career double-double for the Cougars with a team-high 16 points and 10 rebounds while coming away with five steals. Sophomore guard Virginia Benbow (Durham, CT) finished with 11 points in her first collegiate start while Julia Beebe (Andover, CT) offered six points and six rebounds in 21 minutes off the bench.