2007 NEWMAC WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT - Wheaton drops first league semifinal in 11 seasons at WPI, 52-44

February 24, 2007

WORCESTER, MA- The fourth-seeded Wheaton College women's basketball team fell in the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Tournament semifinals on Saturday at top-seeded Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), 52-44 despite wiping out a 17-point deficit and briefly leading in the second half. The contest in Harrington Auditorium was the Lyons' first league semifinal since 1996.

At 17-10, the Lyons await the possibility of an Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Tournament berth. WPI, which is 20-6, advances to Sunday's title game looking to earn an automatic NCAA Tournament bid. Wheaton rallied in the second period against the fifth-best defense in Division III.

After trailing by as many as 17 points in the first half, the Lyons were in a 10-point halftime hole and continued to chip away in the second half. Senior Casey Sorbara (Port Chester, NY/Trinity Catholic) hit a pair of free throws to make it 28-20, and sophomore Krystin Hickey (Manchester, NH/New Hampton School) scored six straight Wheaton points to bring the visitors within 31-26 at 15:52. Senior Kim McCormack (Milton, MA/Milton) then scooped home a bucket to beat the shot clock and make it 31-28.

Junior Becky Aitchison (Norwalk, CT/Trinity Catholic) capped a 19-3 run with a hoop at 12:55, bringing the Lyons within 31-30. The Blue and White held WPI to just those three points during a 12:17 span that stretched from the first period. With Wheaton down four, a pair of McCormack free throws made it 39-37 and, after the Engineers took a four-point lead, freshman Jenny Champney (Bedford, MA/Bedford) hit a three, and Aitchison knocked down two freebies to give the Lyons a 42-41 lead at 3:57, their first since 7-5. However, WPI sophomore Caitlin Macko (Cromwell, CT/Cromwell) banked in a runner 22 seconds later to give the hosts the lead for good. Wheaton trailed by three and grabbed a board with 47 ticks to go, but an ensuing turnover squelched the rally.

The Lyons were able to get out in front early in the game, as sophomore Bri Smith (Westford, MA/Westford Academy) hit a three-pointer to put the visitors on top, 7-5. However, WPI responded with a 19-0 run over 5:58, as the hosts hit three long-range shots and converted a pair of three-point plays. Five Engineers tallied in that time, as freshman Kaileen Selen (Worcester, MA/Saint Peter-Marian) playing a hand in the hosts' first 11 points. The Engineers started 6-of-7 from the field, including hitting each of its first four three-point tries.

After leading by a 28-11 count, WPI saw the Lyons cut their deficit to 10 at halftime thanks to a 7-0 run. Aitchison grabbed an offensive board and laid it back in, freshman Andrea Bailey (Needham, MA/Needham) hit a long jumper, and Champney connected on a long-range shot from the top of the key. Wheaton trailed by 10 at halftime despite shooting 26.9 percent due largely in part to WPI turning the ball over 14 times and the Lyons grabbing eight of their 14 rebounds on the offensive end. The Engineers hit 11-of-20 shots for 55.0 percent.

McCormack had 13 points and five rebounds, while Aitchison added nine points and seven boards. Hickey notched seven points, five caroms and four steals, while Champney finished with six points, five boards and two blocked shots.

Macko tallied a game-high 15 points while hitting 8-of-9 free throws, and Selen had 13 points, seven rebounds and four assists. Senior Meghan Pajonas (Bristol, CT/Saint Paul Catholic) grabbed a game-best 13 caroms, as WPI shot 25.0 percent in the second period and missed all five three-point tries.

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