Cambridge, Mass. - Ivori Aiken's (Harlem, N.Y.)
running jumper in the paint with 11 seconds remaining in regulation
lifted visiting Clark University to a 44-42 win over MIT in a New
England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) women's
basketball game on Saturday.
Lauren Sascha Burton tallied 10 rebounds, nine points, five
assists, and four steals for the Engineers (3-13, 1-9 NEWMAC).
Jillian Camilleri (Lancaster, Mass.) had a solid
outing for the Cougars (4-13, 3-7 NEWMAC) as she posted 12
rebounds, 10 points, two assists, and a pair of steals.
Each side traded baskets to start the contest until MIT scored 11
straight points to establish a 13-2 lead at the 10:47 mark.
Back-to-back three-pointers from Chloe Carden
(Montclair, N.J.) quickly trimmed Clark's deficit to five
(13-8).
A pair of treys by Aparna Sud and a basket by Stephanie Cooke put
the Engineers up, 21-8, with 6:35 remaining in the half. The tandem
of Camilleri and Kate Minister (Manchester,
England) produced nine unanswered points which brought the Cougars
within four (21-17) in a span of almost four minutes. Anna
Merrifield ended the run with a three-pointer to give the Cardinal
and Gray a 24-17 advantage at the intermission.
A jumper from Sally Simpson extended MIT's margin on the opening
possession of the second stanza. Clark countered with a 14-5 run
that evened the frame at 31 midway through the half. Merrifield's
basket put the Engineers in front at the 9:29 mark, but a layup
from Eleni Dixon (Wellesley, Mass.) began a string
of six unanswered points during the next 2:30 for the Cougars. A
three-pointer from Sud and a basket by Burton sandwiched
Maggie Croft's (East Aurora, N.Y.) free throw and
knotted the score at 38. Croft then drained a pair of shots at the
charity stripe to give Clark the slight edge with 3:36 on the
clock. Burton replied with two successful shots from the free throw
line 1:16 later.
Following two minutes of scoreless play, Aiken's put-back gave the
Cougars a 42-40 lead. On MIT's next trip down the court, Sud
converted both ends of a one-and-one with 18 seconds remaining.
Aiken then sank what proved to be the game-winning basket as the
Engineers' final attempt fell short.
Sud registered a game-high 14 points to go along with four rebounds
and four steals. Simpson notched nine boards and six points and
Cooke grabbed eight caroms. Merrifield totaled seven points for the
Cardinal and Gray.
Minister compiled 11 points, six rebounds, three blocks, and two
steals for the Cougars. Aiken, who scored four of her six points
during the final 30 seconds of action, also finished with six
boards and two assists.
Both squads will continue conference play on the road on Wednesday,
Jan. 27. MIT will travel to the U.S Coast Guard Academy while Clark
will take on Wellesley College.
