MIT Falls to Suffolk in Tip Off Tourney Championship Game
MIT fell to Suffolk University, 61-42, in the championship game of the MIT Women’s Basketball Tip Off Tournament on Saturday after opening its season with an overtime win against Framingham State College. The Engineers outlasted Framingham State, 71-59, in the first game of the Tip Off Tournament on Friday, to advance to the championships.
Suffolk University picked up a 67-57 win over Westfield State College to advance to the championship game. In the consolation game, Westfield State defeated Framingham, 71-49.
MIT defeats Framingham State, advances to Tip Off championship
MIT (1-0) went on a 9-2 run during the first seven minutes of Friday’s game. Framingham State slowly chipped away at the deficit and eventually established a 17-16 edge on a jumper by Christina Bordini with 6:34 on the clock. After exchanging baskets, a pair of free throws from Samia A. Mahjub G put the Engineers ahead, 21-20, at the 2:18 mark. MIT converted three of its next four attempts at the charity stripe down the stretch before a basket by the Rams’ Toya Chester with 10 seconds left made the score, 24-22.
Cheryl M. Kwinn ’09 opened the scoring for the Engineers in the second half, which was quickly answered by a basket from Bordini. Sally W. Simpson ’10 extended MIT’s lead to four (28-24) before the game became a defensive battle for the next four minutes. Meghan Czarnecki ended the scoring drought and Jill Johnson’s jumper knotted the contest at 28. A three-pointer by Mahjub was replicated by Framingham State’s Kelleigh Sheehan and helped power it to a 37-33 advantage halfway through the frame.
Baskets by Simpson 1:32 apart resulted in the fourth tie of the half. The Rams regained the lead on Jenna Haselhurst’s trey as they extended their margin to five on two occasions, the last being at 47-42 with 4:24 remaining. MIT countered with seven straight points during a span of 2:26 to go up, 49-47. Bordini’s basket was followed by a lay-up from Kimberly Soo Hoo ’08 on the Engineers’ ensuing possession. Taryn DiFilippo’s jumper registered the seventh tie of the night at 51, but a free throw by Soo Hoo returned the edge to MIT with 35 seconds left to play. DiFilippo sent the game into overtime by converting her second free throw attempt with six seconds on the clock.
Framingham State posted four of the first six points of the extra session, but a three-pointer by Simpson sparked an 8-0 run for the Engineers during the next 2:39. A put-back by Kate Simonelli coupled with a free throw from Haselhurst narrowed the gap to six (65-59) with 47 seconds remaining. MIT closed out the contest by shooting 6-for-9 from the free throw line.
Mahjub led all scorers with 23 points and 20 rebounds, collecting 10 caroms on each side of the floor. Soo Hoo totaled 14 points and three assists while Simpson registered 11 points and three assists in her intercollegiate debut. Clara J. Yuan ’09 posted 12 points and three steals for the Engineers.
Engineers fall to Suffolk in tournament title game
MIT fell to Suffolk University, 61-42, in the championship game of the MIT Women’s Basketball Tip Off Tournament on Saturday. Earning All-Tournament Team honors was Bordini (Framingham), Andrea Wasuk (Westfield), Stephanie Morrissey (Suffolk), and Mahjub (MIT). Meghan Tracey of Suffolk was selected as the Tournament MVP.
The early stages of the championship game were closely played as it featured 10 lead changes. A basket by Yuan gave the Engineers (1-1) their largest margin of the day at 13-10 with 11:09 on the clock. Exactly 40 seconds later, Katie Castignetti’s jumper ignited a 24-7 run for the Rams (2-0) that resulted in a 34-20 advantage at the intermission.
During the first five minutes of the second half Suffolk outscored MIT, 8-2, to establish a 42-22 led. However, a basket and a three-pointer from Simpson narrowed the margin to 42-27. This was as close as it would get as the Rams maintained the momentum throughout the rest of the game.
Mahjub finished the day with 12 points, nine rebounds, and a block while Yuan paced the Engineers with 14 points. Soo Hoo dished out a game-high seven assists as Kwinn and Kristen E. Whaley ’11 each grabbed five boards.