WPI 69, Elms 35

Worcester, MA --- Host WPI utilized the offensive glass to its fullest as the Engineers defeated the Blazers 69-35 in the opening game of the 2006 WPI Invitational Women's Basketball Tournament at Harrington Auditorium on Saturday afternoon.

WPI (5-4), which had 21 offensive rebounds in the game, will face Tufts in the championship game on Sunday at 3pm. Elms drops to 3-6 on the season and will face Plattsburgh State at 1pm Sunday in the consolation contest. The Jumbos defeated the Cardinals 61-37 in the second game Saturday afternoon.

After falling behind, 7-2, in the first two minutes, the Engineers battled their way back courtesy early Elms foul trouble. WPI put together an 8-4 run to make it 11-10 Blazers. But after that, the Crimson and Gray took firm control of the game, going on a 13-7 run with five different Engineers figuring in the scoring.

Karen Krasko (North Branford, CT) and Kaileen Selen (Worcester, MA) jump-started the run, as Krasco put home an offensive rebound - one of 12 first-half offensive boards for WPI - to give the Engineers the lead for good. Selen then came up with a steal at midcourt on the next Elms possession and took it the rest of the way for a layup.

WPI then went on a 12-0 run over the last 6:04 to take a 35-17 lead at the intermission.

Krasko extended the run into the second half, as she came up with a steal in the defensive zone and brought it all the way back for a layup. But Elms' Jenn Payton (Stratford, CT) ended the Blazers scoring drought with a trifecta 27 seconds into the half.

Nearly three minutes later, she would hit another 3-pointer to get Elms within 16 points, which was the closest it would get the rest of the way.

Michelle Perry (Pelham, NH) paced the Engineers with 12 points and five rebounds, while Krasko added a season-high 11 points and eight rebounds. Selen chipped into the WPI effort with nine points and nine rebounds. Point guards Natasha Deschene (Presque Isle, ME) and Emily Allietta (Sandwich, MA) combined for 13 assists on the afternoon as the WPI bench outscored its Elms counterparts by a 32-2 margin.

Payton led all scorers with 15 points for Elms. Amanda Brogna (Oxford, MA) also scored 11 points to help in the Blazers scoring while Michele Fernandes (Danbury, CT) and Paige Schneider (Windsor, CT) each dished out three assists.