For Immediate Release – Jan. 24, 2007
WELLESLEY BASKETBALL
Contact: Tom Wilson
Email: twilson1@wellesley.edu
Wellesley Surges Past MIT, 61-36
WELLESLEY, Mass. –With a berth in the NEWMAC post-season tournament on the line, Courtney Pelley and Jessica Duff led Wellesley to a key victory over conference rival MIT 61-36 at Towne Fieldhouse. The win breaks a seven-game slide for the Blue, as they improve to 4-12. MIT drops to 3-13.
Wellesley opened the game with a 5-0 streak before MIT responded with five unanswered points to tie the score. The teams traded baskets until the 15-minute mark, when MIT went on a 8-2 run, including three-pointers from Michal Ruchelsman and Kimberly Soo Hoo, to take a 17-12 lead. Wellesley battled back to tie the game at 17 with a layup from Courtney Richter with 7:18 remaining on the clock. The Blue then closed out the first half with a 13-6 run behind solid shooting from Courtney Pelley, who shot 5-9 in the period, including three for three from three-point range. Wellesley went to the lockerroom with a 30-23 lead.
The Blue opened the second half with an aggressive man-to-man defense and solid offensive rebounding, holding the Engineers scoreless for nearly eight and half minutes while going on a 14-0 run to break the game open. The Blue were led during the run by Duff, who tallied six points during the stretch. MIT finally got on the board with a freethrow from Sharon Prange at the 11:34 mark. The teams traded baskets the rest of the way, as Wellesley cruised to a much-needed 61-36 win.
MIT was led by Kimberly Soo Hoo with 10 points. Michal Ruchelsman added seven points, while Sharon Prange pulled down seven rebounds. The Blue were led by Jessica Duff with 15 points and 15 rebounds, and Courtney Pelley, who led all scorers with 16. Courtney Richter added 10 points and seven rebounds, while Julia Thomas snagged 11 boards and chipped in seven points.
The Blue return to action on Saturday at Smith for a 2:00 p.m. contest .
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