Rochester, NY --- Impressive starts in both halves and offensive scoring balance featuring a double-double by Alice Kelly (Wethersfield, CT) helped WPI close out 2024 by getting back into the win column with a 76-51 triumph over Elms in the consolation game of the Sandy DeWolf Women's Basketball Tournament hosted by Nazareth.
The victory was the first in five outings for the Engineers, which conclude the 2024 portion of its 2024-24 schedule with a .500 record of 5-5. Elms is now 3-8 on the season.
WPI raced out of the gates, shooting 5-of-7 from the floor and forcing four Elms miscues of its first five possessions en route to jumping to a 12-2 advantage just 3:15 into the contest. Caitlyn Dasaro (Fairfield, VT) spearheaded the strong start with six points, as she shot a perfect 5-for-5 in the first half. Elms chipped away at the deficit in the second quarter and twice got to within a point, the second of which, on a Piper Graham (Lancaster, PA) 3-pointer with 11 seconds to go in the half that sent the two teams in the locker room at intermission with WPI ahead 34-33. Elms' Rahmia Johnston (Newtown, CT) paced all scorers with 11 points at the half while the Crimson and Gray's Allison Fullem (Underhill, VT) nearly joined Dasaro in double figures with nine.
The third quarter was similar to the opening frame as the Engineers started quickly, amassing 18 of the stanza's first 20 points to put the game out of reach in the first 6:25 of the quarter. Megan Stone (Hanson, MA) highlighted the game-deciding spurt with six points while Emmy Allyn (Rutland, MA) and Alice Kelly (Wethersfield, CT) each contributed five.
Kelly led the balanced WPI attack with 15 points while Dasaro totaled 14, Allyn 11 and Fullem 10. Kelly corralled a game-best 10 boards on her way to her first double-double of the season and fifth of her career. She also filled the stat sheets with six assists, a career-high four blocks and three steals. Shannon Reno (Millbury, MA) doled out a career-best tying seven assists, Allyn canned a trio of 3-pointers and Dasaro shot 7-of-10 from the floor and gobbled up five rebounds. Paige Davenport (Albany, NY) gave the Engineers a spark, netting six points and five rebounds in 11 minutes.
Jenny Gorski (Vernon, CT) came off the bench to lead Elms with 13 points, on 6-of-9 shooting from the floor, and six rebounds in 18 minutes. Johnston finished with 11 points, three steals and a pair of assists and Mary Turco (Winthrop, MA) hauled in six boards to go along with two steals.
The Engineers turned 23 Elms turnovers into 32 points and held a decisive 23-10 edge in second chance points. As a team, WPI shot 46.2% for the day, including 6-for-10 in the second quarter.
After two days off around New Year's, WPI continues a busy stretch of five games in nine days by opening up play on Thursday in the Judy Pearson '85 Memorial Tournament at Babson. The Engineers will face Rivier a 3pm Thursday before squaring off with Maine Maritime at the same time on Friday. Elms opens GNAC play on Saturday, hosting Johnson & Wales at 1pm.
