Feb. 13, 2008

Box Score

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - Babson College rallied from a 12-point halftime deficit to take the lead late in regulation, but MIT's Clara Yuan hit the game-winning jumper with nine seconds left as the Engineers stunned the Beavers, 52-49, in a NEWMAC contest on Wednesday night. With the win, MIT improved to 11-11 overall and 3-7 in the conference, while Babson fell to 10-12 overall and 5-5 in the NEWMAC.

MIT never trailed in the first half, leading by as many as 14 before taking a 32-20 lead into the break. Babson slowly chipped away at the deficit in the second half but still trailed by seven, 39-32, with 9:48 remaining. The Beavers then erupted for 12 unanswered points over the next four and a half minutes, including a three-pointer by senior co-captain Caitlin Boulier that gave Babson its first lead of the game with 6:45 left to play.

After the 12-0 run gave the Beavers their largest lead, 44-39, with 5:27 to go, MIT rattled off seven straight points, including five by Kimberly Soo Hoo, to retake the lead, 46-44, with 3:13 on the clock. Things stayed that way until the two-minute mark, when Babson first-year Tracy Ericson drained a three-pointer to put the visitors back in front, 47-46.

MIT quickly answered with a jumper by Yuan with 1:42 remaining, but senior Linsey Poulson came right back with a lay-up at 1:30 to give Babson a 49-48 advantage. The two teams then traded empty possessions before Yuan drained a three with just nine seconds remaining to give the Engineers a 51-49 lead. Soo Hoo followed with a huge steal to give MIT the ball back with three seconds to go, and Yuan added a free throw with one tick remaining to finish off the 52-49 win.

Babson outshot and outrebounded MIT in the contest, but was hurt by 22 turnovers compared to only 13 by the Engineers. The two teams combined for just 22 fouls and seven free throws in the game, with Babson hitting 2-of-3 and MIT sinking 2-of-4. Boulier led the Beavers with 11 points, six rebounds, and four assists, while Poulson finished with 10 points and four boards. First-year Rebecca Bowman added seven points, five rebounds, four assists, two blocks, and two steals, and sophomore Sarah Hughes chipped in with six points, five boards, three assists and two steals.

Yuan led MIT with a game-high 18 points, while Cheryl Kwinn collected 15 reboudns. Soo Hoo finished with 13 points and five assists, and Samia Mahjub amassed 10 points, seven caroms, four blocked shots, and three steals.