Springfield Outlasts MIT, 81-62
Jan. 27, 2005
CAMBRIDGE, MASS. - The MIT women's basketball team fell to Springfield College, 81-62, in a NEWMAC contest on Thursday night. Karen Kinnaman paced the Engineers (3-11, 0-6 NEWMAC) with 17 points and eight rebounds. The Pride's (13-4, 6-1 NEWMAC) Courtney Parvin played all 40 minutes, posting a game-high 23 points on 10-of-15 shooting. With the win, Springfield earned sole possession of first place in the conference standings.
Springfield quickly built a 4-0 lead 30 seconds into the contest. Kimberly Eri Soo Hoo's three-pointer put MIT on the scoreboard at 17:02. The Pride went on to build a nine-point advantage (14-5), their largest of the half, during the next 2:30. Tech responded by going on an 8-0 run to cut the deficit to 14-13 at 12:37. Springfield outscored MIT, 9-2, in a three-minute span, pushing the margin to eight (23-15).
The Engineers orchestrated an impressive run that resulted in a 24-23 lead with 6:40 remaining. The scoring spree was sparked by a jumper from Kinnaman. Jordan Wirfs-Brock registered back-to-back baskets before Michal Ruchelsman drained a three-pointer for the lead. A pair of free-throws by Kacey Wunsch momentarily gave the Pride the advantage, until Kinnaman knotted the game at 25 by sinking one-of-two from the charity stripe. A lay up by Courtney Parvin gave Springfield the lead for good at 5:14. MIT remained in striking distance at the intermission, trailing 37-32.
Erin Schwartz registered the Pride's first point of the second stanza by sinking a free throw after one minute had expired. A free throw by Kinnaman followed by a trey from Joanna Natsios brought the Engineers within two. Springfield rattled off nine unanswered points, extending its lead to 47-38. MIT was able to narrow the margin to four (48-44) with 12:02 left to play. However, the Pride posted its first double-figure lead of the night less than two minutes later. The Engineers came within nine points on three occasions, the last time at the 8:07 mark. Springfield outscored Tech, 19-9, to close the game.
Cherelle Walls reached double-figures for the third game in a row, finishing with 10 points and five rebounds. Joanna Natsios posted a career-high eight points on 3-of-4 shooting, including a perfect 2-of-2 from beyond the arc. Christa Margossian added eight points while Kimberly Eri Soo Hoo contributed seven. Jordan Wirfs-Brock also had a career night by posting four points in the run that gave MIT its only lead of the game.
Springfield's Kacey Wunsch finished with 21 points, by hitting 7-of-10 from the floor and 7-of-9 from the charity stripe. Tara McCarthy had a solid showing, tallying 18 points, six rebounds, five assists, three steals and one block.
The next game for MIT will be on Saturday, Jan. 29 at 12:00 p.m. when it hosts Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
