WORCESTER, Mass. - Junior
Kathleen Smith of the Williams College women's basketball team recorded her fourth double-double of the season Monday evening with 12 points and 10 rebounds during a 53-50 loss to WPI in non-conference action.
Smith shot 6 for 9 from the field for the Ephs (6-6), while junior
Hanorah Murphy finished with 10 points. Junior
Tatum Leuenberger filled up the box score with six rebounds, four points, three assists and two steals, while sophomore
Skylar Chui contributed with six points off the bench.
Ava Giansiracusa (15 points) led the way for the Engineers (8-4), shooting 2 for 3 on 3-pointers, while Leila Nielsen (12 points, 5 rebounds) also played well. WPI shot 42.2% from the field (19 for 45) and Williams finished with a 41.1% effort (23 of 56).
Neither team was able to generate a lead of greater than three points in the first quarter, as the Engineers took a 15-12 lead at the end of one on a driving layup by Nielsen with six seconds on the clock. WPI opened a 23-16 advantage on a 3-point shot by Giansiracusa with 6:01 left in the second, but the Ephs were able to trim the deficit down to 27-25 going into halftime on a mid-range jumper by sophomore
Sarah Pettegrove with 23 seconds remaining.
A jumper by Chui gave Williams the lead for the first time since the first quarter at 40-39 with 1:17 left in the third. A pull-up jumper by sophomore
Micah Walton with 38 seconds on the scoreboard sent Williams into the fourth with a 42-20 lead.
There were five lead changes in the fourth quarter and neither team was able to build a lead of larger than four points. The hosts won the final 10 minutes, 13-8, to seal the win.
The Ephs will begin NESCAC competition Friday with a 7 p.m. game against Little Three-rival Wesleyan in Middletown, Connecticut.
