WPI 64, Johnson & Wales 47

Box Score

Worcester, MA --- WPI scored the first 14 points of the game and never trailed in a 64-47 win over visiting Johnson & Wales in non-conference women's basketball action on Thursday evening.  The Engineers, winners of three of their last four games, improve to 4-6 while Johnson and Wales slips to 2-7 on the season.

The WPI defense opened the game strong, forcing the Wildcats to miss on their first eight field attempts and pestering them into six turnovers in the first seven minutes.  For the first half, the Crimson and Gray limited the visitors to 7-of-33 (21.2%) shooting from floor.

Serena Dubois (Bangor, ME) registered her fourth double-double of the year, notching team-highs of 13 points and 10 rebounds.  Senior co-captain Kate Maki (Fitchburg, MA) chipped in with 10 points and four assists while Natasha Deschene (Presque Isle, ME) had a solid all around game, tallying six points, five rebounds, four assists and four steals.

Johnson & Wales hung tough, cutting the WPI to lead to nine at 51-42 with 6:18 remaining but the Engineers rattled off nine straight points to put the game out of reach.

Nicole Laferriere (Windham, NH) paced all scorers with 14 points for the Wildcats.  Alexia Ramirez (San Marcos, CA) tallied 11 points for JWU while Teri Prado (Columbus, NJ) led all players by corralling a game-best 13 rebounds.

The Engineers enjoyed an advantage on the boards and in the lane.  WPI outrebounded Johnson & Wales by a 52-37 margin and outscored the Wildcats 50-20 in the paint.  They also played well in transition, scoring a season-best 24 fast break points.

WPI will return to court on Sunday when they travel to Bennington, VT for a 3pm contest versus Southern Vermont.  Johnson &Wales entertains Nichols on Saturday at 1pm.