Deschene and Dubois Enjoy Home Cooking in Women's Basketball Win at Thomas
Natasha Deschene
WPI 79, Thomas 60
Waterville, ME --- Maine natives Natasha Deschene (Presque Isle, ME) and Serena Dubois (Bangor, ME) combined for 37 points to help lift visiting WPI to a 79-60 victory over Thomas in non-conference women's basketball action on Saturday afternoon. With the win, the Engineers, winners of four of their last five, improve to 5-3 on the season.
Deschene reached her career-high for the third time this season,
connecting on 6-of-9 shots from the field en route to tossing in a
game-best 19 points. Dubois notched her third double-double
of the season and eighth of career. She ended the game by
equaling her career-high of 18 points (vs Wesley - 12/30/07) to go
along with 10 rebounds. The duo was playing in front of a
large contingent of friends and family as it marked the first time
either had played a collegiate game in the state of Maine.
WPI sported five players who reached double figures in scoring. Caitlin Macko (Cromwell, CT) registered 13 points while Kaileen Selen (Worcester, MA) and Melissa Kuhn (Stoughton, MA) both drained a pair of 3-pointers while collecting 10 points each off the bench.
The Engineers used a late 12-1 run in the first half to take a 39-28 advantage into the locker room at the break. The Crimson and Gray used a 14-6 first half edge in second chance points to jump ahead then never saw their shrink to single digits in the second stanza.
Amy Miles (Waldo, ME) paced the Terriers (2-5) with 12 points while Mallorie Blakney (Fairfield, ME) chipped in with 10 and Courtney Barrett (Monmouth, ME) added nine points and a team-best eight boards. Miles led all players with six assists on the day.
Both teams are now off until after the Christmas holiday. The Engineers will host the WPI Invitational on Tuesday, December 30th and Wednesday, December 31st. WPI will take on Maine Machias in the opening round at 1pm on the 30th with Tufts and Catholic scheduled to tangle at 3pm. Thomas is back in action on Thursday, January 8th when they venture to UNE.
Story contribution by Alyson Talbot ‘09