Brunswick, ME --- The nationally-ranked Bowdoin women's basketball team used a strong defensive effort to knock off visiting WPI 62-43 on Tuesday afternoon in a non-conference contest inside Morrell Gymnasium.
 
The Polar Bears, ranked eight in the most recent D3hoops.com Top 25, up their record to 12-1 on the season while the Engineers dips to 9-5 overall.

Ava Giansiracusa (Whethersfield, CT), Ava Hyams (Kearny, NJ) and Allison Fullem (Underhill, VT) delivered all scoring efforts throughout the first quarter on 50% shooting from the floor (6-of-12) for all 13 points for the Engineers as the hosts were led by Carly Davey that showed out with seven points in the opening quarter of action as the Polar Bears posted 16 first quarter points on 53.8% shooting.

A good Leila Nielsen (New York, NY) layup and Kayla Goldrick (Attleboro, MA) three pointer got the Crimson and Gray to within a one-point reach before Bowdoin's Melissa Leone (Ashland, MA) responded with a three of her own to kickstart a 12-5 run that was bookended with a Katherine Garr (Palo Alto, Ca) three to close out the second stanza with a 31-23 lead.

The hosting Polar Bears surged ahead in the third quarter on 57.9% shooting from the floor (11-of-19) as six different players recorded points led by Abbie Quinn (Bangor, ME) who was 4-of-5 from the field for nine of the hosts' 25 third quarter points. The duo of Nielsen and Fullem combined for 13 in an attempt to keep the Engineers within reach as the Crimson and Gray shot 5-of-12 in the out of the halftime break as Bowdoin held a 56-36 lead heading into the final quarter of regulation.

Both teams slowed down as Giansiracusa, Emmy Allyn (Rutland, MA) and Addison Pong (Bolton, MA) were the final players to record points as the defense held the Polar Bears to 2-of-13 in the final frame.

Fullem finished the evening with a season-high and team-high ten points on 4-of-7 shooting and a perfect 2-for-2 at the line followed by Nielsen with nine and Giansiracusa with eight points. Bowdoin's Davey posted a game-high 15 points joined by Quinn's 13 as eight different Polar Bears found the scoring column in the victory.
 
WPI opens up NEWMAC play on Saturday, hosting Wheaton at 3pm in Harrington Auditorium.  Bowdoin returns to NESCAC action on Friday, hosting No. 14 Bates in a match-up of nationally-ranked squads at 7pm.