January 16, 2010

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Mount Holyoke College used a late first-half run to propel it to a 42-29 victory over MIT in a New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) women’s basketball game on Saturday. Sally Simpson paced the Engineers (2-12, 0-8 NEWMAC) with 10 points. Angelica Pascual tallied 14 points, 12 rebounds, and three assists for the Lyons (5-10, 3-5 NEWMAC).

Baskets by Christine Chancy and Pascual gave Mount Holyoke a 4-0 edge after four minutes elapsed. MIT captured the lead courtesy of a jumper from Lauren Sascha Burton and a three-pointer by Simpson. A pair of ties ensued as layup by MIT’s Lauren Simmons evened the score at 10. The Lyons gained some breathing room on an Erin Cain trey and a layup from Pascual. A basket by Anna Merrifield brought the hosts within three (15-12) at the 9:48 mark. A minute later Tricia Chase drained a jumper that sparked a 14-0 run to close the half and give Mount Holyoke a 29-12 advantage at the break.

The Lyons carried the momentum into the second stanza as their lead grew to 22 points after 3:32 expired. MIT continued to attack, scoring 11 unanswered points which cut its deficit in half (36-25) with 8:53 left to play. A pair of free throws from Cain and a Pascual layup ended Mount Holyoke’s 10-minute scoring drought. Merrifield’s three-point play and a free throw later on narrowed the gap to 11 (40-29) with 3:05 remaining. Cain capped the scoring with two shots at the charity stripe inside the final minute of regulation.

Merrifield finished the day with 10 rebounds and eight points while Burton totaled eight boards, five points, and four steals. Stephanie Cooke chipped in eight caroms and two assists.

Cain notched 13 points and six rebounds as Jess Olson tallied 14 boards, two blocks, and two steals. Chase bolstered the Lyons’ rebounding corps with eight caroms.

Both squads will continue conference play at home on Wednesday, Jan. 20. MIT will host WPI while Mount Holyoke will take on the U.S. Coast Guard Academy.