WPI 55, Nichols 52

Worcester, MA --- Sophomore guard Kaileen Selen (Worcester, MA) had 16 points and sophomore forward Serena Dubois (Bangor, ME) collected a double-double with 11 points and a game-high 15 rebounds to lead the WPI Engineers to a 55-52 first-round victory over Nichols College in the Worcester City Tournament hosted by Clark University on Friday night. 

WPI (1-0) will face Clark in the championship game on Saturday (3pm) at the Kneller Athletic Center.  Clark posted a 69-46 victory over Worcester State College in the earlier match-up. 

Nichols had a balanced offense with three players in double-figures.  Sophomores Margaret Lilly (Ashfield, MA) and Curtia Humbert (Bridgeport, CT) each had 11 points, while senior Kristina Weasel (Wakefield, RI) added 10 points. Lilly also grabbed a team-high 14 rebounds. 

WPI led by as many as 16 points on a three-pointer by Selen with 4:26 remaining in the first half and held a 12-point advantage (34-22) at the break. 

In the second half, Nichols chipped away at the lead on a 14-5 run.  The spark was highlighted by six points from Humbert and a pair of three’s by Weasel to make it a two point game (49-51) with two minutes left to play.  However, a runner by Natasha Deschene (Presque Isle, ME) and two key free-throws down the stretch by Selen, who was four-for-five at the line, sealed WPI’s victory.

WPI, which shot 39% from the field, out-rebounded Nichols by a slim 42-36 margin.

Nichols (0-1) will play Worcester State in the consolation game on Saturday (1pm) at Clark’s Kneller Athletic Center. 

Release courtesy Clark Sports Information