Feb. 15, 2007

Box Score

Babson Park, MA - The visiting WPI Engineers recorded a 44-31 victory over host Babson College in a New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) contest on Thursday night. With the win, WPI (17-6, 10-2) clinched at least a share of the NEWMAC regular season title for the first time since the conference's inception in 1998, while Babson fell to 11-13 overall and 7-5 in the league.

Senior Meghan Pajonas (Bristol, Conn.) highlighted the win for WPI, as she became the 14th player in program history to score 1,000 career points. The Engineers' co-captain finished with team-highs of 10 points and 10 rebounds -- her sixth double-double of the season and fourth in the last six contests. Sophomore Michele Perry (Pelham, N.H.) added nine points and eight boards in the win, and first-year Kaileen Selen (Worcester, Mass.) chipped in with nine points and seven boards.

Babson was paced by junior Caitlin Boulier (Wolcott, Conn.), who led all players with 14 points, and senior captain Colleen Burke (Pittsfield, Mass.), who collected a team-best 10 rebounds and dished out three assists.

Both teams struggled mightily in the first half, combining for just 23 total points while committing 18 turnovers. WPI managed 15 points on 22.6 percent (7-for-31) shooting in the opening frame, while Babson was held to just eight points on 13.6 percent (3-for-22) shooting.

The Engineers maintained a sizable advantage in the opening minutes of the second half, going up, 26-14, after two free throws from sophomore Caitlin Macko (Cromwell, Conn.) with 13:29 left. Babson eventually whittled the lead down to four, 29-25, after a jumper by senior Suzy Ward (North Attleboro, Mass.) with seven minutes remaining, but WPI closed the game with a 15-6 run to clinch the victory. Selen was huge in the closing minutes for the visitors, as she scored seven of her nine points in the final five minutes.