Williamstown, MA --- Megan Stone (Hanson, MA) achieved a new career-high with 12 points but the WPI women's basketball team saw its three-game winning streak end as the Crimson and Gray was defeated on the road 63-53 by Williams inside Chandler Gymnasium on Monday evening. 

The Ephs, who have now won six straight contests, are now 9-3 on the season while the Engineers move to 7-6 overall. 

The opening quarter was played at a quick pace and fittingly ended tied 18-18.  The Engineers shot the ball tremendously, draining 66.7% (8-of-12) of its shots but were hampered by eight quarter turnovers.  Emmy Allyn (Rutland, MA) nailed a pair of trifectas and Ava Giansiracusa (Wethersfield, CT) and Allison Fullem (Underhill, CT) each hit both of their shot attempts off the bench as the trio combined for 14 of WPI's 18 points in the frame. 

The hosts used the middle two quarters to seize control.  Arianna Gerig (Westport, CT) netted 12 of her 18 first half points in the second quarter, including getting to the free throw line on four different occasions and draining 5-of-9 on way to a 37-29 halftime lead.   Williams came out of the locker room after the intermission and tallied the first eight points while WPI holding scoreless on its first eight possessions (0-for-6 shooting with two turnovers) over the first 5:02 of the second half.   Williams' Ellie Tounkara (Rockville, MD) was a perfect 3-for-3 from downtown in the third quarter while Stone (6) and Giansiracusa (5) for all of WPI's 11 points in the quarter.  

Trailing by 14 entering the fourth and by as many as 17 in the quarter, the Engineers clawed back to within 10 points on an Alice Kelly (Wethersfield, CT) layup with 2:00 to go but guests would not get the margin back to single digits the rest of the way. 

Stone's 12 points were a point more then her previous career-best of 11 set twice earlier this season (ironically in both contests against Rivier).  The junior made 5-of-7 shots from the field and was a perfect 2-for-2 from the line as the Engineers were 7-of-8 as a team from the charity stripe.  Giansiracusa recorded 11 points and finished a rebound short of a double-double while setting new career standards in both boards (9) and in steals (3).  Fullem and Allyn each finished with eight points with Fullem and Paige Davenport (Albany, NY) combining for five blocks. 

Gerig and Tounkara teamed up for 40 of the Ephs 63 points with 27 and 13 respectively with both also hauled in six rebounds reach.  Gerig, who finished 11-of-14 from the line, also swiped four steals while Cortland McBarron (Fair Haven, NJ) contributed eight points and five rebounds. 

The Boynton Hill bench had a strong night, outscoring their Williams counterparts 25-6 but the Ephs proved opportunistic, turning 18 WPI miscues into 23 points, with 10 of those in the opening quarter. 

WPI is now off for over a week until Tuesday, January 14th, when it entertains No. 5 Bowdoin at 4pm.  Williams opens up NESCAC action this weekend hosting Wesleyan on Friday at 7pm and Trinity on Saturday at 3pm.