Record-setting night as women's hoops win by 57

The Women's basketball team held off Framingham State for the first three-and-a-half quarters on Saturday Photo by Jonathan Pesch

First-year head coach Charise Galasso should have slept well Thursday night, as her women's basketball team destroyed Atlantic Union College at home, 68-11. The victory snapped a two-game losing streak for the Engineers.

Currently at 4-4, they have nearly half of the wins accumulated by all of WPI's winter varsity athletic teams to this point (9). Three of the four losses were by four points or less.

While the 11 points allowed is not a record, WPI's 39 steals were, blowing away the previous record of 25, last accomplished on January 21, 1995. Freshman Allison Wing (Brewer, ME) led the team with 11, setting and individual record previously held by teammate Rachel Zimet. Wing also scored a game-high 14 points and grabbed 3 rebounds in only 18 minutes of play.

Zimet, from Trumansburg, NY, had 8 steals on the night to go along with 9 points and a team-leading 8 rebounds.

Atlantic Union (1-6) was down 33-7 at halftime, but things only got worse. WPI outscored the visitors 35-4 in the second half, forcing 47 turnovers. The Engineers shot .380 for the game, holding Atlantic Union to a .116 shooting percentage.

Since the start of the season, the women's team has shown that they will be fiercely competitive this year. After losing the season opener to Worcester State, 51-62, WPI took third place in the City Tip-Off Tournament, beating Anna Maria, 72-55.

Against Worcester State, freshman Courtney Montague (Brewster, NY) came off the bench to score 13 pointes to go along with 6 rebounds. Senior co-captain Beth Gilbert (Killingly, CT) led the scoring against Anna Maria with 18 points, including a pair of 3-pointers. But Zimet was the story, scoring 16 points, hauling in 14 rebounds, and adding 4 steals. Junior co-captain Helene Gwizdak (Plaistow, NH) added 12 points and a trio of rebounds.

The Engineers continued their winning ways by beating Western New England College 58-41 just before Thanksgiving. Zimet led again with 14 points and added 9 rebounds. Erin Jabs, a junior from Preston, CT, led with 11 rebounds to go along with 9 points and the team's lone blocked shot.

After a 65-47 victory at Daniel Webster, Amherst College came to town. Wing had 15 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 steals, while Zimet dropped in 7 points with 8 rebounds, but it was in a losing effort as the visitors took the game, 52-49. WPI outscored Amherst 31-26 in the second half, and Jabs had 13 points and 6 rebounds, but it wasn't enough.

Another close loss came last Tuesday night at Anna Maria. The rematch was won by the AmCats, 57-53. Saturday afternoon, the Engineers led Framingham State for nearly the entire game, but could not hold on as the Rams squeaked out a 63-66 victory with some last-minute heroics. Zimet was dominant, scoring 21 points and grabbing 16 rebounds, both season highs. Wing had 14 points and 5 steals, but 34 turnovers, including 12 by Jabs and 8 by Gwizdak, cost them the victory.

The women hit the road for their next few contests, and do not return home until Saturday, January 20, when they host Coast Guard in a NEWMAC matchup. Tipoff is scheduled for 2:00pm and admission is free - mark your calendars! This year's team looks as if it is going to be one of the best in a while.