BOSTON, Mass. – First Year guard Francesca Corsinetti (Johnston, R.I.) had 14 points off the bench to lead the Simmons College women's basketball team, while sophomore forward Presley Silva (Wilmington, Mass.) contributed 10 points, five rebounds and four blocks as the Sharks fell to visiting WPI, 59-46, this afternoon at Moore Gymnasium in Boston, Mass. The Sharks drop to 3-5 on the year, while the Engineers win their ninth straight to improve to 11-1.
Corsinetti was an impressive four of five from the three-point line, while Silva was five of six from the floor, shooting 83.3%. Simmons was able to shoot an impressive 50% (5-10) from three-point range as a team, while holding WPI to 10% (1-10) from beyond the arc, but that advantage was not enough for the Sharks in the end.
Simmons ended the first quarter by scoring seven unanswered points thanks to a jump shot from Corsinetti and three-pointer from senior guard Gracie Rolfe (Newton, Mass.), followed by a put-back layup by senior forward Nicole Alberghini (Northborough, Mass.). The second quarter proved to be the turning point in the game. With five minutes left in the quarter WPI junior guard Priscilla Dunphy (Barrington, R.I.) made her second straight jump shot to give Engineers a 19-18 lead, which they never relinquished.
As a team the Engineers totaled 15 steals, five coming from sophomore guard Ama Biney (Worcester, Mass.) who led WPI with 17 points in addition to five rebounds and an assist, while Dunphy chipped in with 11 points and five rebounds.
The Engineers opened the third quarter with a six to zero run, giving them the first double digit lead of the game. At the end of the quarter the Sharks were able to cut the lead down to seven with two Rolfe free throws, but the Engineers immediately responded with another Dunphy jump shot to end the third quarter up by nine.
Simmons will be in action again on Tuesday, January 5 when it hosts Pine Minor College at 7:00 p.m., while the Engineers travel to Wellesley College on January 6 for a 7:00 p.m. tip-off.