HENNIKER, N.H. – The Wentworth Institute of Technology women's basketball team would hold NEC to a season low 37 points closing out their season with a 43-37 win over New England College Saturday afternoon.
The highlight of the Pilgrim offense was junior Rachel Williams (Chapel Hill, N.C.) who became the ninth player in school history to surpass the 1,000 career point mark doing it on a pair of foul shots in the opening half.
Wentworth would open the game scoring the first three baskets to jump out to the early 6-0 lead. NEC would respond using a 9-0 run to go up 14-8 midway through the half. Wentworth would then use back-to –back layups cutting the NEC lead to just one and eventually trail just 17-16 heading into halftime.
Wentworth would take their first lead of the second half at the 10:12 mark and use an 8-1 run to grab their largest lead of the afternoon up 33-25 with 5:29 remaining. NEC would get within five points late but Wentworth would close out the final 30 seconds of the game 6-for-6 from the foul line to solidify the 43-37 victory.
Leading the way for Wentworth was Kirsten Vallone (Avon, N.Y.) who finished with a game-high 16 points and grabbed 18 rebounds in her final collegiate game. Wentworth's Kendra Kerr (Marshfield, Mass.) was the only other Leopard in double-figures finishing with 12 points and seven rebounds.
NEC was led by Rachel Williams who finished with a team-high 13 points and nine rebounds. NEC's Kate Levy (Woods Hole, Mass.) chipped in 12 points for the Pilgrims.
With the win Wentworth finishes the season with an overall record of 10-15 and a TCCC record of 4-9. NEC closes out the season 12-13 overall and 5-8 in conference play.
-Story Courtesy of New England College Sports Information-
WENTWORTH 43, NEW ENGLAND COLLEGE 37
WENTWORTH (10-15, 4-9 TCCC)
Kirsten Vallone 6-16 4-8 16; Kendra Kerr 5-19 2-4 12; Jordan Biggar 3-13 0-0 6; Ashley Conway 0-4 4-4 4; Ashley Stowe 1-3 1-2 3; Christine Henry 1-2 0-0 2; Paige Newcomb 0-0 0-0 0; Danielle Miranda 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 16-57 11-18 43.
NEW ENGLAND COLLEGE (12-13, 5-8 TCCC)
Rachel Williams 2-13 9-11 13; Kate Levy 4-13 0-1 12; Jessie Ledy 1-8 2-3 4; Katarina Muska 1-2 0-0 3; Jenna Ledy 0-3 2-2 2; Shauntaye Pumphret 1-4 0-0 2; Stephanie Parker 0-5 1-2 1; Emily Girard 0-1 0-0 0; Amber Jackson 0-1 0-2 0; Jen Adams 0-0 0-0 0; Carlin Hood 0-1 0-2 0; Marlena Grutzmacher 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 9-52 14-23 37.
Wentworth..................... 16 27 - 43
New England College........... 17 20 - 37
3-point goals--Wentworth 0-8 (Kirsten Vallone 0-1; Kendra Kerr 0-1; Jordan Biggar 0-2; Ashley Conway 0-4), New England College 5-25 (Kate Levy 4-10; Katarina Muska 1-1; Jenna Ledy 0-1; Shauntaye Pumphret 0-1; Stephanie Parker 0-3; Emily Girard 0-1; Marlena Grutzmacher 0-1; Jessie Ledy 0-6; Rachel Williams 0-1). Fouled out--Wentworth-None, New England College-None. Rebounds--Wentworth 53 (Kirsten Vallone 18), New England College 40 (Rachel Williams 9). Assists--Wentworth 9 (Ashley Conway 2; Danielle Miranda 2;
Kirsten Vallone 2; Jordan Biggar 2), New England College 4 (Jessie Ledy 2). Total fouls--Wentworth 18, New England College 18. Technical fouls--Wentworth-None, New England College-None. A-150
