WORCESTER --
Ava Giansiracusa (Wethersfield, CT) poured in a game-high 15 points and
Ava Hyams (Kearny, NJ) added 13 as WPI opened its 2026-27 women's basketball campaign with a commanding 76-38 victory over Worcester State in the opening round of the 45th annual Worcester City Tournament on Friday evening. The Engineers used a dominant second quarter to pull away from the Lancers in a contest played at the WPI Sports & Recreation Center.
Giansiracusa connected on a pair of three-pointers and went a perfect 5-for-5 from the free-throw line, while Hyams shot 6-for-9 from the floor and swiped three steals.
Leila Nielsen (New York, NY) chipped in 10 points and three assists, while
Olive Whitney (Emmaus, PA) contributed nine points off the bench.
MJ van der Horst (Anchorage, AK) added eight points and a team-high five rebounds.
For Worcester State,
Arianna Gonzalez (Worcester, MA) and
Aydan Gulliver (Cranston, RI) paced the Lancers with nine points each, while
Lena Waldron (Quincy, MA) added eight points and three steals.
Alana Smith (Chicopee, MA) pulled down a game-high nine rebounds for the Lancers.
WPI wasted little time establishing control, opening the game with four straight points before extending its lead to 15-2 midway through the first quarter. Hyams opened the scoring with consecutive layups, while Giansiracusa knocked down a three-pointer and
Hannah Levine (Needham, MA) added five quick points to help build the early advantage. The Lancers settled in late in the period, but the Engineers carried a 19-13 lead into the second quarter.
The Crimson and Gray took complete control in the second frame, outscoring Worcester State 27-4 while shooting a blistering 61.1% from the floor. Hyams converted a three-point play to open the quarter before Giansiracusa connected from beyond the arc and Nielsen added another triple. Whitney also got into the action with five points during the period as WPI stretched its advantage to 46-17 at halftime.
The Engineers kept their foot on the gas after the break, with Nielsen scoring six points on perfect 3-for-3 shooting in the third quarter. Van der Horst added four points as WPI shot 69.2% (9-for-13) from the floor in the period to push its lead to 64-27 entering the final stanza. The Crimson and Gray eventually built a game-high 40-point advantage in the fourth quarter before closing out the 38-point victory.
WPI shot 52.5% (31-for-59) from the field and connected on five three-pointers while holding Worcester State to just 27.1% (13-for-48) shooting.
WPI advances to Saturday's Worcester City Tournament championship game, where the Engineers will face the winner of Friday's Clark-Nichols matchup. The title contest is scheduled for 6pm at Harrington Auditorium, with the consolation game set for 4pm. Worcester State will face the loser of Clark-Nichols in the consolation contest.
