By Tiffany Williams –
WORCESTER, Mass. — WPI women’s basketball stopped the slide and sent a loud message Saturday afternoon inside Harrington Auditorium, burying visiting Emerson early and never letting go in a 55-41 NEWMAC win.
The Engineers ripped control of the game with a dominant first half, outscoring the Lions 39-28 and turning a three-game losing streak into history. The win lifts WPI to 11-8 overall and 2-3 in NEWMAC play. Emerson leaves Worcester at 12-7 and 3-2 in conference action after getting punched in the mouth and spending the rest of the afternoon chasing.
The day carried emotion before the opening tip, as the Crimson and Gray honored longtime former assistant coach Maegan Cook. At halftime, the spotlight turned to banners and legacy, recognizing the 2015-16 team that captured the 2016 NEWMAC title and members of the program’s run of three straight NEWMAC Championship appearances. Once the ball went up, WPI made sure the present lived up to the past.
Megan Stone of Hanson, Massachusetts set the tone immediately, exploding for eight points in the first quarter. Emmy Allyn of Rutland, Massachusetts and Ava Hyams of Kearny, New Jersey added buckets as the Engineers attacked from multiple angles. Femke Jansen of North Granby, Connecticut capped the quarter with a three to give WPI an 18-17 edge and all the momentum.
Emerson briefly pushed back early in the second quarter behind a three and two free throws from Jessie Silk of Newton, Massachusetts to take a 23-20 lead. That was the last moment of hope. WPI responded by converting seven of its next eight possessions, detonating the game wide open. Threes from Allison Fullem of Underhill, Vermont and Hyams, plus layups from Allyn and Ava Giansiracusa of Wethersfield, Connecticut, fueled a surge to a 36-28 advantage with 2:43 left in the half. Late free throws from Allyn and Fullem sent the Engineers into the locker room up 39-28 after shooting 15-of-31 from the field, while Emerson struggled to keep pace despite shooting 40 percent.
The Lions steadied briefly in the third quarter, but they never threatened. Early in the fourth, WPI slammed the door. Giansiracusa drilled a key three, Stone followed with a layup, and the lead ballooned to 55-37 with just over seven minutes remaining. Emerson scored the final four points, but the outcome was long decided as the Engineers’ defense closed it out.
Hyams led all scorers with 12 points and added seven rebounds in 33 minutes. Giansiracusa, Stone, and Allyn each finished with 10 points, spreading the damage evenly. Emerson was paced by Bri Frongillo of Hopedale, Massachusetts with 11 points and six rebounds, while Silk added 11 points and a team-high nine rebounds in a losing effort.
Both teams are back in action Wednesday night at 7 p.m. WPI hits the road to face Mount Holyoke, while Emerson returns home to host Babson. For the Engineers, Saturday wasn’t just a win — it was a reset.