MIT Downs Women's Basketball 62-53

Framingham, Mass. – The MIT women's basketball team opened the game with a 9-0 run and held off a fourth quarter comeback from the Framingham State University women's basketball as the Engineers defeated the Rams 62-53 in non-conference action at the Athletic Center.

THE BASICS:

- Score:  MIT 62, Framingham State 53

- Records: Framingham State (5-4), MIT (7-3)

- Location: Athletic Center – Framingham, Mass.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The Engineers opened the game with a 9-0 run featuring six points from sophomore Kylie Gallagher before junior Mary Kate O'Day (Berlin, Mass.) cut the deficit to six with a free throw and a layup.
• The Engineers countered with a 6-0 run capped by a basket from sophomore Jocelyn Luizzi that pushed the lead back to nine.  MIT would lead 18-10 after one quarter.
• Sophomore Abbey Battaini (Haverhill, Mass.) drained a three seven seconds into the second quarter for the Rams to cut the deficit to five, but the Engineers countered with a 9-0 run over the next three minutes taking a 27-13 lead. MIT extended the lead to 18 late in the first before heading to the locker room leading 38-21.
• The Engineers maintained a double digit lead throughout the third quarter and headed to the fourth leading 50-37.
• The Rams cut the lead to ten, 53-43, after a bucket by sophomore Bryanna Santos (Brockton, Mass.) and a free throw from junior Emily Velozo (Tewksbury, Mass.) in the fourth. 
• MIT pushed the lead back to 13, but the Rams cut it to nine on a jumper from O'Day with 2:46 left on the clock.  MIT countered with a free throw pushing the lead back to 10, but Battaini sank a pair of freebies with 1:18 on the clock to pull the Rams within eight, 58-50.
• MIT would hit four of six from the line in the final minute to seal the 62-53 victory.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• The Rams were led offensively by 14 points apiece from Velozo and O'Day. Velozo added six rebounds, two assists and a block, while O'Day recorded four boards.
• Santos finished the game with nine points and five rebounds off the bench, while Battaini chipped in with eight points, two boards and block.
• MIT was led offensively by Gallagher who just missed a double double whit a game-best 19 points and nine boards.
• Senior Dolly Yuan added 11 points, eight rebounds, three assists and three steals, while Kara Holinski and Kristen Ngan finished with eight points apiece.
• MIT shot 34% from the floor for the game, but connected on just three of 23 from behind the arc, while the Rams shot 33% from the floor but connected on seven threes.
• MIT held a 36-16 edge in points in the paint and converted the Rams 19 turnovers into 20 points.

UP NEXT:

The Rams close out the semester on Thursday night when they host Regis College for a non-conference contest at 7 p.m.  The Engineers are idle until December 29^th when they face the College of New Jersey at 2 p.m.