Women’s Basketball Falls on Last Second Basket at MIT
Cambridge, Mass. – A layup by MIT senior Maya Ramachandran (Fremont, Calif.) with 6.3 seconds left capped a back-and-forth final two minutes of regulation and thwarted Framingham State University's comeback attempt as the Engineers held on for a 64-63 non-conference women's basketball victory on Tuesday night.
Rams sophomore Raegan Mulherin (Baldwinville, Mass.) nearly put the Rams in front during the waning moments but her initial shot was off the mark while junior Monta Connolly's (Lynn, Mass.) put-back was blocked by senior Sabrina Drammis (Hilton Head Island, S.C.).
Freshman Kara Holinski (Livonia, Mich.) led all scorers with 19 points and added five rebounds and three assists as the Engineers improved to 4-3 on the year. Ramachandran finished with 15 points, five boards, and three assists while Drammis compiled 10 points, eight rebounds, and a game-high five assists. Freshman Kristen Ngan (Sudbury, Mass.) chipped in seven points as junior Liana Ilutzi (East Hanover, N.J.) dished out four assists.
Sophomore Quinn O'Connell (Sterling, Mass.) paced Framingham State (5-3) with 15 points and four assists coming off the bench while Mulherin totaled 14 points, four assists, and four steals. Junior Sarah Palace (Auburn, Mass.) registered 12 points and four steals as Connolly posted nine points and nine rebounds, with seven coming off the offensive glass. Junior Alycia Rackliffe (Feeding Hills, Mass.) tallied a game-high 10 boards and two blocks in addition to eight points while freshman Tiphani Harris (Revere, Mass.) hauled in eight rebounds.
Trailing 52-38 with 49 seconds left in the third quarter, back-to-back three pointers by O'Connell ignited a 20-3 run that put Framingham State in front, 58-55, with 2:25 remaining in regulation. Holinski evened the score with a trey on MIT's next possession but Connolly replied with a layup on the Rams' ensuing trip down the court. A pair of free throws by Drammis with 1:04 to go as well as Holinski at 40 seconds sandwiched another Connolly drive, tying the game at 62. Framingham State inched ahead when Connolly converted the second of two free-throw attempts with 21 seconds to go. Following a timeout by the hosts, Drammis found Ramachandran for what proved to be the game-winning bucket.
The Engineers established an 18-8 lead at the 4:24 mark of the first quarter but a layup by Mulherin coupled with a trio of free throws from Palace quickly cut the Rams' deficit in half. MIT responded with six unanswered points as it eventually ended the frame with a 26-17 advantage.
Both sides trades baskets during the first half of the second quarter until a three-pointer by O'Connell and a layup from Harris brought Framingham State within six (32-26) at the midway point. Freshman Sophie Gershon (New York, N.Y.) ended MIT's scoring drought; however, Mulherin produced a free throw and then a basket to narrow the gap to 35-29 at halftime.
The Engineers outscored the Rams, 12-4, during the first seven minutes of the third quarter as their lead reached 14 points on two occasions, the last at 52-38 on two Holinski free throws. O'Connell responded with the first of her back-to-back three pointers that set up the dramatic fourth quarter.
Next up for MIT will be a road trip to Endicott College on Thursday, Dec. 10 while Framingham State will host Anna Maria College on Saturday, Dec. 12.
*Release courtesy of MIT media relations*