WPI 72, Smith 44

Box Score

Northampton, MA --- Visting WPI defeated Smith 72-44 this afternoon in a New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) match-up. With the victory, the Engineers improved to 12-8 overall and 7-3 in conference play while Smith fell to 4-15 overall and 2-8 in the NEWMAC.

WPI opened an early 6-0 lead on baskets by Serena Dubois (Bangor, ME), Kaileen Selen (Worcester, MA) and Natasha Deschene (Presque Isle, ME) before Berit Schelde (Holstebro, Denmark) put Smith on the board. The Engineers outscored Smith 9-2 in the next five minutes as their full court pressure bothered the Pioneers who turned the ball over six times. Smith closed to within eight points, 23-15, but the Engineers slowly increased their lead as they maintained their defensive pressure and took a 39-20 lead into the half.

Selen scored the first six points of the second half that gave WPI a twenty-five point lead which proved too much for Smith to overcome. Selen scored a team and game high 15 points while Elle Fontaine (Franklin, MA) and Dubois tallied 14 and 11 points respectively. 

Jessica Welk (Arlington, WA) had a team high dozen points for Smith and Schelde added 10 in the loss. Lisa Marie Vuono (Lyndhurst, NJ) had four steals for the Pioneers.

The Engineers shot 49.1% from the floor for the game and missed just three free-throws (17 of 20) while the Pioneers struggled hitting 29.1% and going 10-for-16 from the free throw stripe.

Smith will host Thomas College at 5 pm on February 14th and resume NEWMAC play at Mount Holyoke College on Saturday, February 16th at 2 pm.  WPI hosts Wheaton at 1 pm on Saturday.

Release Courtesy Smith Sports Information