Women's Basketball Fights Off Lasell, 52-46

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – In a back-and-forth battle that featured eight ties and five lead changes, the MIT women’s basketball emerged with a 52-46 victory over Lasell College on Tuesday night. Kristen Whaley registered a double-double for the Engineers (1-3), notching 12 rebounds and 10 points. The Lasers’ (0-4) Tricia Culver compiled a game-high 17 points on 7-of-16 shooting from the floor to go along with two steals.

Each side traded baskets to start the contest until back-to-back buckets from Erica Pino gave MIT a 10-8 edge at the 12:05 mark. Lasell registered a 10-2 run during the next six minutes, capped by a three-pointer from Kelsey Converse, to capture its largest lead (18-12) of the night. Aparna Sud’s trey on the Engineers’ next trip down the court sparked a 13-0 run that put the hosts ahead, 25-18, with 1:17 remaining in the half. A jumper and a put-back from Reegan Brackett as time expired brought the Lasers within three (25-22) at the intermission.

Lasell carried the momentum into the second stanza as a basket from Culver and three-pointer by Katie Ferr resulted in a 27-25 advantage. A trio of ties ensued as a jumper by the Cardinal and Gray’s Sally Simpson evened the game at 31 with 15:34 on the clock. Following three minutes of scoreless play, a three-point play by Whaley and a jumper from Sud put MIT up, 36-31. The Lasers slowly chipped away at the deficit, knotting the contest at 37 on a Culver basket with 7:43 left to play. The Engineers responded with eight unanswered points during the next four minutes to gain some breathing room.

Lasell battled back, cutting its deficit to four (46-42) courtesy of a jumper by Culver and a three-pointer from Converse with 2:19 remaining in regulation. A pair of free throws by Simpson increased the Engineers’ margin, but Culver immediately responded with a layup to maintain the four-point margin. Lauren Sascha Burton converted both of her free-throw attempts to give MIT a 50-44 lead with 45 seconds to go. Exactly nine seconds later, Kara Hinthorne’s layup once again brought the visitors within four. A Simpson free throw and steal coupled with a free throw by Anna Merrifield with eight seconds left thwarted Lasell’s hopes of mounting a late rally.

Simpson paced the Engineers’ balanced attack with 11 points in addition to six rebounds and a game-high three steals. Merrifield finished with eight points and six boards as Burton tallied eight points, five caroms, and four assists. Sud totaled nine points, three assists, and two steals while Stephanie Cooke grabbed five rebounds in 11 minutes of action.

Kim Archibald collected a game-high 13 rebounds, including seven off the offensive glass, for the Lasers. Brackett recorded nine points and eight boards as Converse posted eight points and two assists.

Both squads will continue action on the road. MIT will travel to Albertus Magnus College on Saturday, Nov. 28 while Lasell will visit Roger Williams University on Tuesday, Dec. 1.