Worcester, MA- In the second game of the Worcester City Tournament this Friday night hosted by Anna Maria for the first time. The Lancers open their 2024 season with a meeting with the Engineers in the neutral court battle with the winner advancing to the Worcester City Tournament Championship tomorrow.

Final

Worcester State: 39

WPI: 61

How it Happened:

Worcester State would find themselves up four early in the opening quarter of action as sophomore Hannah Manzaro (West Brookfield, MA) would nail two early free throws and sophomore Hannah Lomanco (Northbridge, MA) would grab a lay up in the opening minute of action. The game would quickly turn into a back and forth battle with the Engineers grabbing a lead with three minutes to go. The Lancers would aim to cut into the six point lead in the second quarter, and would grab the first basket of the second nearly halfway through the second to begin to build into the deficit. Worcester would stay close on WPI's tail, sending a 23-17 score into half, down just six as they matched the Engineers point for point.

The second half found WPI coming out with a new vigor as they worked to shale the Lancers off the tail, jumping out to a 13 point lead before senior Abby St. Martin (Putnam, CT) recorded a jumper to get into the scoring action. WPI would not allow that one basket to set the tone though as they pushed their lead to 18 points before Worcester could again begin chipping into the deficit, ending the third quarter down just 15. 

Worcester hit the court for the final 10 minutes of regulation looking to overcome the third quarter surge of WPI, matching basket for basket with the Engineers. A late quarter surge would again push the WPI lead up to 23 points and just out of reach for Worcester as the final buzzer hit with Worcester holding the Engineers to 61, but unable to crack through their defense for more than 39 points on the night. 

Senior Katie Hurynowicz (Tyngsboro, MA) would lead Worcester on the night with 12 points.

What's Next:

Worcester will now face off against host Anna Maria at 6pm tomorrow in a rematch of the 2023 Worcester City Tournament Consolation match at 6pm.