WORCESTER, Mass. – The Clark University women's basketball team (2-0) competed against WPI (1-1) in the Worcester City Championship and for the third straight year came away victorious with a 55-52 win on Saturday night from the Kneller Gymnasium.
Sophomore
Cyriah Coleman and junior
Kailey Rios were named to the All-Tournament Team for their performance over the two days of action, with Rios being named the Tournament MVP.
The Worcester City Tournament championship is Clark's 24th all-time, which is the most in the history of the tournament, ahead of WPI who has won 13 titles.
How it Happened
- The Cougars opened the game on a 9-2 run as Coleman and Antwi combined for all nine points before Ava Hyams ended the Cougars run with a pair of made free throws.
- WPI answered to tie the contest at 11-11 before Coleman scored five points over the last 0:39 seconds of the first, including a made triple off a feed from junior Bella Galatt as Clark took a 16-11 edge into the second quarter.
- First-year Atiya Watson and Rios combined to score Clark's first six points of the second quarter as the Cougars led 22-20 with 5:43 to go.
- Over the final 5:11 of the quarter, Clark outscored WPI 16-3 sparked by 10 points from Rios, with a pair of made triples and a free throw from Coleman gave the Cougars a 38-23 lead heading into the half.
- WPI opened the second half on a 9-2 run as Leila Nielsen buried a three and Hyams, Emmy Allyn, and Ava Giansiracusa all scored, while Watson netted Clark's lone points as the Engineers pulled within eight.
- Antwi then connected on a triple and before the end of the quarter, junior Olivia Shipley, Rios, and Watson all scored as the scarlet and white took a 49-39 edge into the fourth.
- Junior Emma Drefs opened the fourth quarter with a made layup off a feed from Coleman and Watson scored with 7:21 remaining to extend their lead to 53-39.
- The Engineers held Clark scoreless over the next 6:00 minutes and pulled back within one at 53-52 with 13 unanswered points as Neilsen led the way with seven points during that stretch.
- Coleman connected on a pair of free throws with 0:23 to go and after a timeout by WPI, the Cougars defense forced Nielsen into a contested triple with 0:02 remaining as Clark prevailed 55-52.
Inside the Box Score
- Clark made 20 shots, grabbed 37 rebounds, dished out 13 assists, and forced 25 turnovers.
- Rios led the Cougars with 16 points on six shots made.
- Coleman added 13 points, six assists, and six rebounds.
- Watson and Antwi each tallied 10 points.
What's Next
The scarlet and white will return to the court on Wednesday night when they travel to Fitchburg State for a contest beginning at 6:00 p.m.